The Cecil McBee Interview

Some Kind of Freedom
by Cecil McBee
​I was born in 1935, and I remember quite clearly sitting in the back of the bus, sitting at the rear of the restaurant. I was a shoeshine boy. I was shining shoes for people when I wasn’t allowed in their neighborhood. Even when I was in college, that was still happening. Upon arriving in New York City, there were prejudices that were maintained. Now I feel a strong bit of relief that I’ve attained a modest sense of freedom, that I can continue to evolve personally, along with those who wish to evolve to the reality of some kind of freedom.
​The majority of folks around the world who are incarcerated are almost entirely black folks. All that creativity and evolution of African American culture is lost, including to the people who would benefit from hearing it.
​On the other side of it, the doors are open now for progress and for development of who you are, of whatever you have to say. A lot of the locks have been thrown away. I’m thrilled to be able to do what I do now and experience what I experience as an African American. I have evolved to be respected to an extent around the world.

[@SkullOfTheAbyss]

Sad that Feinberg felt it necessary to derail Cecil’s positive message with race baiting.