The year 2020 was difficult. Despite its many challenges, award-winning singer, songwriter, author, and educator Dr. Khadijah Ali-Coleman Ed.D. aka Khadijah Moon made the most of it.
A marquee performing artist and scholar, Khadijah continues to be nationally acclaimed for her theatrical performances, concerts, and cultural influence. She builds awareness for the many beautiful facets of African-American culture while also coaching the next generation of creatives through her celebrated brand The Creative Midwife.
Her lessons and ideals come to harmonious life in her music. As the founding member of Liberated Muse Arts Group, her soulful, jazzy quartet performed their debut album AWAKENING on the Millenium Stage at John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.
A powerful and engaging writer, she is brightening family lives with her children’s book Mariah’s Maracas.
Khadijah shared some of her time with us by answering THIS questionnaire about her life in 2020 and what to expect from her in 2021.
How would you summarize 2020?
I would summarize 2020 as a year of mixed-blessings and transition. I lost all of my performing gigs after March 2020, but by then I had completed a three-month tour with my arts group Liberated Muse.
We had a traveling tribute show to the late Toni Morrison and we had performed at libraries and a major show at the Kennedy Center. So, what an extreme honor that was only for it to really be my last in-person performance of 2020.
Which of your blessings would you say was the biggest?
My biggest blessing was not getting COVID-19 in 2020 and earning my doctorate from Morgan State University.
Did you read any good books that you would recommend to others?
I recommend the book Caste by Isabel Wilkerson as it is aligned with what we saw transpire in front of our eyes during the reign of Donald Trump. While racism has been the foundation of this country, this book breaks down how our caste system impacts everything we think we know about.
What was the best song of the year?
My best song of 2020 was the song “Time is Different Now (Slow Down)” that I sing and wrote. The music was composed by my producer Ben Beta and our daughter Khari. They call themselves the Quarantine Society. The song is on Spotify now.
What were the movies or television shows that you couldn’t stop watching?
So many good shows. I loved Watchmen, Lovecraft Country, and Hunters with Al Pacino.
Who were the artists you listened to the most?
I listened to Questlove Supreme’s podcast for the first time in 2020 and now I am a groupie. I love this podcast. It is probably my favorite. While Questlove can really talk a lot and go off on tangents, he brings on the best guests. I loved the interviews with Jimmy Jam, Journee Smollett, Spike Lee, and Bobby Brown.
What did you Google the most?
I don’t think there is a thing I Google the most because I Goggle everything at any moment.
Tell us the most surprising thing you heard all year.
The most surprising thing I heard all year was my daughter singing her own music during her virtual music recital. Most beautiful thing ever.
Where were you when you learned about COVID-19 and how did you respond?
I learned about COVID-19 in February. I was teaching college at the time and as I learned more about it, I realized that many of my students had had this illness. It is by the grace of God that I didn’t contract it. We went online soon after. I had to defend my dissertation online on Friday, March 13 because it was the week that all public institutions closed to the public because of COVID-19.
How were you helped and hurt by the pandemic?
I didn’t get to celebrate my graduation because of COVID-19. I accomplished a big goal of getting a doctorate after 30 (plus ten) and I wished to have had a chance to walk across the stage and celebrate with my family and friends. I also wish I had gotten a refund on the $1000 doctoral robes I had bought in January.
Did you vote?
I always vote.
Did 2020 cause you to value your life and the lives of others more than you did already?
I have been singing and writing about police brutality and the racial injustice that exists in the US. 2020 shone a light on specific issues because some people were quarantined home and forced to pay attention.
What can we expect from you here in 2021?
2021 will be a year of re-building and re-imagining a world that is still in progress.
For me, I will be releasing a new play with Theatre Alliance that will be presented as a film. I also hope to release a new CD of holiday music in November. I hope you check me out at KhadijahMoon.com. |THIS.
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
