‘Brother, You’ve Got a Fan Now!’: Nina Simone’s writes a letter to her friend, Langston Hughes

In life and song Simone referred to them ceaselessly, either as collaborators or when their conversations were quoted. Consider the ways that Hughes was present in Simone’s practice. Known as one of Simone’s most cut-throat civil rights offerings, Backlash Blues was written by Hughes. If not written, his spoken word was also considered at performances like the 1967 live recording where Simone had the following to say about Hughes: