Hi, I'm Jordan Millar. I'm 13 years old, and I've been a part of
the New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers for five years.
Earlier this year, I created an orchestral arrangement of
the Civil Rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" for the Philharmonic's Young People's Concert on
"Music As a Change Agent."
The arrangement was to be performed by the Orchestra with everyone attending.
Although the concert was cancelled due to the global pandemic,
the need for us to be united in song still remains.
Through this arrangement, I hope to provide people with faith,
knowing that despite the many recent events,
better days are ahead.
Although the song was written over 100 years ago,
its message of resilience is still just as relevant today.
The phrase, "we shall overcome," not only provides a sense of unity
but promises that together we can create change.
Thank you for listening, enjoy the performance, and please share with us
how you are using your voice to change the world.
Black people need to overcome the idea that the same people that shut us out
will be the ones to let us in.
And those people, white America, I am looking at you
and anyone else who brought into the narrative
surrounding black people and the stereotypes,
it is time for you to unlearn, to overcome
every lie you were told, every lie you told,
every microaggression you partake in by accident.
You see, it is time for you to do the work because posting a picture with the
hashtag #BlackLivesMatter and asking me how I feel is no longer enough.