Singing the Blues and Blowing Our Minds

Black History Month could be celebrated in a zillion ways. Here are two: listening to the blues and watching Viola Davis portray the Mother of Blues, Ma Rainey. Rainey’s voice, manner, look, attitude, clothes—so much about this woman differed from other musicians of the early 20th century. And so much of Rainey’s legacy shows up in later singers and songwriters, ones who followed her gutsy lead.