Ball of Wax 62 Songs: Jeremy Summer – “Black”

Jeremy Summer’s “Black” is not a song filled with light and joy. Musically it is quietly gorgeous – slow, simple, and hushed. Lyrically it is harrowing and disturbing, a list of – if my interpretation is correct – some of the all-too-common crimes against Black Americans that have recently had more light shed on them, but that go back centuries. “Black” reminds us that no matter who is president when the entitled old white guys stop yelling at each other, there is an unbelievable amount of work to be done to make this country more just. “Gasping for breath,” Jeremy begins, and he ends with “without warning / shot for nothing.” He offers no redemption, no silver lining, just a list of our crimes to do with as we will. So, what are we doing?