17: STEVEN RIMMER ON THE MUSIC OF NINA SIMONE AND GIL SCOTT-HERON
Green Acres, Beverly Hillbillies, and Hooterville Junction
Will no longer be so damn relevant
And women will not care if Dick finally got down with Jane
On Search for Tomorrow
Because black people will be in the street looking for a brighter day
The revolution will not be televised- Gil Scott-Heron
Art, at its best, doesn’t just reflect the world—it exposes its contradictions and pushes people to act. The music of Nina Simone and Gil Scott-Heron resonate deeply with me. They don’t offer comfort; they offer clarity.
Music does something different for me, that is powerful. Nina Simone’s voice carries both pain and defiance, turning personal emotion into collective urgency. Gil Scott-Heron, especially in his album, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, challenges passivity and calls for real, grounded action. Their work doesn’t just tell you that the world is broken, it reminds you that people have always resisted, organized, and fought back.
For me, art is a tool for alignment. It brings emotion, energy, and it helps me stay connected to a larger struggle, not just isolated moments. In that sense, art doesn’t create a better world on its own, but it builds the consciousness and conviction required to fight for one.
– Steven, May 2026
My name is Steven Rimmer, and I am a Community Activist and founding member of the Detroit Tenants Union. As a native Detroiter, I feel a deep responsibility to fight for safe, affordable, and dignified housing for all Detroiters. My work focuses on mobilizing and empowering community members to identify common goals, build collective power, and fight for change. Through my organizing, I have partnered with a wide range of community organizations and advocated for tenant rights at the city, state and federal levels of government. I have worked to elevate the voices of renters, push for stronger tenant protections, and help residents organize around the issues directly impacting our lives and communities.
