
CHRISTMAS 1969, I found a most beautiful gift under the shimmering tree. She had the cutest face, curly black hair, and deep brown eyes with the longest lashes I had ever seen. I fell in love with her at first sight. Alice was more than merely a doll to me – she soon became my beloved playmate and confidante. I would take Alice on long walks through the neighborhood – propped up in her red pram – and share all my heart-thoughts with her. One sunny day in early spring 1970, during one of those enchanted strolls, a little old lady with a cane passed our way, stopped me and curiously peered inside my pram. The warm twinkle in her eyes turned cold instantly. Her face froze. “This cannot be your baby!” she scolded. “Of course, this is my baby!” I exclaimed, flabbergasted by her rudeness. The woman, obviously annoyed by my answer, insisted: ”That’s impossible. She’s black!” Furiously waving her cane in the air, she looked at me with scornful eyes, grunted and walked away. Something inside of me cracked wide open. I had not yet been introduced to the concept of “race” – and in my first, disturbing encounter with racism, at the tender age of five, I lost my innocence.
It was around the same time that I realized I wanted to live my life as an artist. As long as I can remember, the realm of music, creativity and artistic expression has been both my happy place and my sanctuary. When I was about eleven or twelve years old, my parents took me to a live jazz concert.
I was mesmerized!
The concepts of swing and improvisation resonated deeply with me, offering me a gateway to my inner world.
Uncensored.
Venturing far beyond the emotionally restrictive and deeply traumatized society of post-war Germany.
Growing up in an environment that did not recognize or foster my highly sensitive, artistic nature, it was not until I met my soul mate and future husband, NYC born, African-American pianist Reggie Moore, that I had the courage to follow my heartstrings’ calling. However, I was ill prepared for the racism – both, covert and overt – prevalent among artists, promoters and listeners. The most difficult phenomenon for me to come to grips with has been the way many artists – African-Americans included - were (and are to this day) fostering exclusion, misogyny and racial divisiveness. Sometimes I felt like I was caught in a time warp. The Color Purple Revisited.
A rose is a rose is a rose.
And racism is racism is racism.
It comes in all shadings.
Let it suffice to say, that both our professional as well as our private lives were severely affected by the reality of racism. So many gigs we were not booked or even considered for because of our union or because one of us was “the wrong color”…so many projected emotions, and misconceptions of who we truly are…so many incidents of deprecation and overt attack. Throughout our 34 years together, Reggie and I have been dealing with this reality the best we could - often challenged to keep an open mind and heart in the face of fear, guilt, ignorance and oblivion; in the face of denial, resentment, hatefulness and aggression – and in the face of our own demons.

When, at the end of 2010, grave illness disrupted my performing career, I became an “outside observer” of the music scene. Through these years of research, soul searching and introspection, I have finally found closure and forgiveness. And I have come home full circle.
Walking in my path has enabled me to evolve into the person I am today. In the jazz idiom, I have found a language that allows me to conceive, feel and express all shadings of (my) human experience; in the pursuit of (my) truth, the music has taught me more about life, and the conditions of human growth, than words can express.
To all the magnificent artists that have inspired and empowered me through their genuine works of (he)art, I feel deeply connected – and I bow to them with gratitude and love.
The realm of music is still my sanctuary - and my happy place. As I am diligently getting myself in gear to return to the concert stage and actively contribute to the art form, which so deeply resonates in my soul, I pledge to do whatever I can, to help transcend our collective Pain Body into a Body of Joy, Love and Thriving. For ALL of us.
We are ALL SHADES OF HUMAN.

The concept of race is BOGUS. Scientifically unsubstantiated. Based on a string of lies. Designed to foster separation and hate. The sooner we accept this truth, the sooner we can heal and thrive. In the NOW - and FORWARD.
THE LIGHT OF INNOCENCE
You’re perceived as “black”
I’m perceived as “white”
Yet, underneath our skin
Flows the same golden light
Of Creation
Eternally
We are all shades of human
Golden Light of Innocence
I’m calling to you
Golden Light of Innocence
Please shine us through
We perceive the world
Through a mist of lies
Only meant to rouse our fears
And to stifle our cries
For equality
And we forget
We are all shades of fragile
By the Light of Innocence
We’re learning to see
Golden Light of Innocence
The “You” in the “Me”
Will you make me pay
For what’s been done to you
And will I make you pay
For the mill I’ve been through
Forevermore
When will we know
We are all shades of broken?!
Golden Light of Innocence
Unshackle our souls
Golden Light of Innocence
So we can be whole again
When your eyes meet mine
There’s no trace of hate
Our audacity to love
Is transcending the fate
Of our ancestry
The Phoenix smiles
We are all shades of glory
By the Light of Innocence
The truth is revealed
By the Light of Innocence
Our shadows are healed
“TO JAZZ IS TO LIVE” - and to evolve. May we continue to listen to each other's truth in the realm of music and beyond; to see and find each other; and use our creative potentials to help conceive and make manifest a world beyond racism, misogyny, bigotry and fear.
Cornelia "Seachild" Moore