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Frankie Beverly's anthem for Black America that makes people feel like they can sing

For Black History Month, we're exploring history and identity through the lens of joy. Black joy is the ability to love and celebrate black people and culture, despite the world dictating otherwise. Black joy is liberation.

» READ MORE: Kindred the Family Soul

Frankie Beverly's "Before I Let Go" is like a national anthem to black America. It's the wedding, it's the graduation party, and it's the backyard barbecues.  It's the backdrop to so many different experiences in our lives.

I've had the opportunity to see Frankie Beverly perform many times, and each time I looked around the stadium or the room, I saw people's emotions. The song just makes them explode with pride and joy and happiness.

At the Essence Fest in New Orleans, there were 50,000 to 60,000 people rocking out to the song. It was exciting to see so many people adore something so much. To have everyone experience it together was … wow.

"Before I Let Go" is one of those songs that keep moving from generation to generation. It's one of those songs that make people feel like they can sing. It's a song that's easy, free, a song that will continue to reverberate with people for years to come.