It is International Women’s Month and Cheri Moon is here to kick it up a notch. Cheri’s new single harkens back to a staple in women’s rights history: Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman” speech. Sharing the same name with the famous speech, Moon’s “Ain’t I A Woman” is a powerful anthem for 2021. The message of her music resonates with soulful celebration with the punchiness of a pop-ballad. Outside of Cheri’s music career, you can also catch her working along side Good + Foundation. In our interview with Cheri, we talk about Sojourner’s influence today for women everywhere and what hopeful emergences we have seen in the past year for feminism. For more on Cheri Moon, please read our exclusive interview below.

Where are you based?
I’m based in LA.

We know you grew up in Memphis, TN. How did this atmosphere and environment influence your development as an artist?
Growing up in Memphis helped me to have a solid foundation and great roots in music because it is one of the blues, jazz, soul & gospel capitals. With just my family alone we listened to a wide range of music from 'Earth Wind & Fire', Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson to having our own little gospel group that would sing at churches. Between me, my cousins, aunts, and uncles we had a drummer, organ player, trumpet player, singers, and more! We’d just be in a room together and if one sings, we all chime in with harmonies or ad libs or beating on something to keep the rhythm. So, music was very much a part of my childhood.

How did your music career begin? What inspired you to go into music? Do you remember when you first heard a song of yours in public?
I started singing in church, but then I used to compete in talent shows and school functions all the time because I loved singing and performing. When I moved to NY, a weird thing happened where I met 2 girls on the subway who asked me out of the blue if I was a singer or an artist. That sparked a quick conversation, but they linked me to one of the girls who I later joined a music group with that ultimately led to working with Timbaland, his team, and more amazing producers in the industry. I never ever heard from those girls again after that initial meet on the train, which is really crazy!

The first song I heard of mine was actually on a TV show. My mom heard it first and then called to tell me that she and her friends heard my song on shows they watched called “All My Children” and “Young & the Restless." A company had licensed quite a bit of my music for their episodes so that made my mom, and her friends were even more excited to watch their Soaps :-).

We are really excited to talk to you about your song “Ain’t I A Woman” - there’s so much to unpack with this song so let’s start with the title that shares the name with the famous Sojourner Truth speech. What impact has this speech had on your life?
This speech has been inspirational to me since I learned it in high school. Having to learn it was a punishment given to me in high school but ended up being something I’ll never forget. My grandmother was really the one who explained fully to me the importance of Sojourner Truth and her speech. The power in this movement for women’s rights has stuck with me for many years. It resonated with me even more after becoming a mother and feeling like I had to trade in my artist hat to be a mom. Fighting through the limitation's society sets for you as a woman can be challenging. Also, 2020 brought us terrible incidents with Breonna Taylor & Vanessa Guillen among others that rocked our world along with the overall darkness of the pandemic. Thoughts of my grandmother doing the speech for me and also Sojourner Truth’s message filled my head during this dreadful time so much that I felt I had to release the song I’d written “Ain’t I A Woman” as soon as I could. It ultimately inspired me to create, motivate, and celebrate myself and other women all over the world.

There’s a very powerful part of the speech that we would love to hear your thoughts on:
“If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it. The men better let them.” What does this part of the speech mean to you?
Amazing Words. To me, she’s insinuating that if what Eve was accused of in the Bible was enough to create huge havoc and set standards for women at that time, then the women today coming together to fight and asking to be treated equally should be able to have a chance to prove what they are capable of, not have someone predetermine their capabilities...and no man should stand in their way.

We also love that you put this out on International Women’s Day. Who are some women that you know or are your inspiration who have worked to turn the world back and right side up again?
There are so many women that I’m Inspired by that it's too many to name, which is great. But it’s another reason why in the “Ain’t I A Woman” music video I chose to portray a variety of roles women have from being a mother, businesswoman, doctor, astronaut, politician, athlete, and more because women are multi-faceted, and it can all be inspiring!

Did you write this song for anyone in particular?
I dedicated it to my grandma, Sojourner of course, and I celebrate Kamala Harris’s achievement at the end of the video, but I intended this to be for every woman.

What was the writing process like for you?
I get emotional about songs like this as this is so personal. Sorting through my own feelings was a huge part of this, so I was on an emotional rollercoaster. Feelings of being underappreciated, under accomplished, then tearing all that down and looking at the small things I have done and how far I’ve come and appreciating those bits. Whooaahhh it’s a process.

We feel very motivated and inspired by Ain’t I A Woman - what do you hope audiences take away from your song?
Thank you! That’s exactly what I’d hoped is for this to inspire women to keep moving and fighting for what they want and believe but celebrate who you are and what you’ve already accomplished. But also, for the men to celebrate those inspirational women in their lives.

What was it like recording the song during quarantine?
I used it as an outlet for me to release. I let quarantine craziness fuel me.

What do you think Sojourner Truth would find hope or inspiration in today?
Wow, there’s so much she would love. So many women making history and setting limitless boundaries for little girls all around the world. From Dr. Kizzie Corbett, Stacey Abrams, Kamala Harris, AOC and so many more women not hugely publicized that are using their own horrific experiences to educate and encourage girls. I mean, there’s so much to be proud of as a woman nowadays.

A large part of the women’s movement is to re-write history -- and we see this being advocated for with BIPOC Americans and LGBTQ Americans as well. What sort of challenges have you seen in this mission to re-write history? What sort of progress?
The biggest challenge I see is changing someone’s mind when they’ve had their limited mindset for so many years. Their unwillingness to be open to change and someone being different can feel like an uphill battle. I do see a lot of people who wouldn’t normally seek knowledge on other cultures being more curious and eager to learn. I feel people are actually seeking more conversations on these topics, which is one of the first steps to having some progress.

In 20 years, what do you hope the next generation learns about the year 2020?
I imagine a lot of happenings in 2020 will go in history books for upcoming generations to learn about. It was a devastating year but sometimes there has to be devastation for good to happen and to have a shot of a REAL CHANGE. I know there’s a lot more to be done, but I’m hoping our children and children’s children will reap the benefits.

Jejune loves that you support the Good + Foundation, a leading national nonprofit that works to dismantle multi-generational poverty by pairing tangible goods with innovative services for low-income fathers, mothers, and caregivers. How did you get involved? Can you tell us more about their work and their mission?
I opened a family place in Los Angeles in 2014 called SNOOKNUK Arts & Indoor Play Cafe. Snooknuk is my kid’s brand that started when I became a new mom and began creating songs and media content to help families teach kids life lessons, social awareness, and mindfulness. Opening a physical space for families to come and take music classes, workshops, art, dance and more really helped to build an organic community with what I was doing. I became more engaged with the community needs and was introduced to Good Foundation, which actually used to be called Baby Buggy through other moms that were members at Snooknuk. I loved what they were doing, so I offered my place to be one of the Donation drop-off locations as well as promote and help in any events or drives they would run. We would advertise at our physical space as well as add it to our mail outs.

The Good + Foundation works a lot to provide families with essentials -- which a year ago many families had trouble finding when goods like toilet paper were suddenly in short supply. What sort of essentials do you think are often overlooked when it comes to donations to lower-income families?
With our location specifically, we would collect anything from diapers to clothes and toys. I think what could be paid more attention to is maybe the personal needs of the moms. Maybe some skincare, beauty products, etc. Women need to feel good and beautiful; I believe that is very much a part of keeping ourselves motivated & lifting our self-esteem. As vain as it may sound, when you look good, you feel good, and vice versa. A lot of women don’t have the means to even begin to think about purchasing such items, so I would say more donations like that would go a long way as well.

How has the pandemic impacted families that depend on organizations like The Good + Foundation? What can we do to help lower-income families in our local communities?
I believe things were slowed down a little bit in terms of delivery etc. just as much as the whole world, but they have made huge strides still with securing funding to provide 60,000 health and safety kits to families. In our local communities, I’m seeing more family-to-family help, which is great. I think identifying where there is a need and if you are in a position to help in any way, then I think that’s the move, more personal connections. It may not be material things that are needed. These days, people could just use some empathy to help them through the day, such as kind words and a helping hand.

How have you been staying positive during shelter-in-place?
I’ve been writing, releasing more music and videos :-). Being creative helps me to stay positive. But also, I’ve been spending more quality time with my family as well, which was much needed.

What is your motto in life?
My favorite since I was a kid is: It’s better to be prepared and not have an opportunity than to have an opportunity and not be prepared!

To learn more about Cheri Moon, please follow her via the below platforms:
Instagram: @cherimoon
YouTube: Cheri Moon

Ain't I A Woman? Cheri Moon's Anthem of Empowerment For All Women