‘I couldn’t help but cry’: Mica Paris was ‘overwhelmed with sadness and anger’ after visiting a cellar once used to hide slaves on the run in Tennessee
Mica Paris has revealed how she was ‘overwhelmed with sadness’ and broke down crying after visiting a tiny cellar once used to hide slaves who were on the run.
The singer, 51, went to the Slave Haven Underground Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, while filming her BBC documentary, The Gospel According To Mica.
She explained how being at the emotional location made her feel ‘angry’ and reflect on the racism her ancestors had suffered.
Emotional: Mica Paris, 51, has revealed how she cried and was ‘overwhelmed with anger’ after she visited the Slave Haven Underground Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, for her new show
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Mica said: ‘Afterwards, I felt overwhelmed with intense sadness and anger. I couldn’t help but cry.’
Mica added: ‘It did make me angry. It made me realise what my ancestors had gone through and the racism they suffered and how it was no different for me.
‘It’s like a Jewish person going to visit Auschwitz. It was no different at all.’
While at the museum Mica also learnt about activist Harriet Tubman, who helped 700 slaves find freedom.
History: The singer explained how the visit ‘made me realise what my ancestors had gone through and the racism they suffered’ (pictured in March)
The trip was part of the filming for her upcoming documentary about Gospel music, with Mica being a big fan of the genre and brought up on the music.
She spent two months filming in America and the programme opens with rapper Stormzy performing his hymn Blinded By Your Grace Pt 2 at Glastonbury last year.
The structure of the show is built around the history of six gospel classics including Oh Happy Day and Amazing Grace.
Speaking with the Weekend Magazine, Mica said: ‘It’s produced by Lenny Henry’s company.
Activist: While at the museum Mica learnt about Harriet Tubman (pictured), who helped rescue 700 slaves
Learning: The Slave Haven Underground Museum appears in one of Mica’s episodes about gospel music
‘I wanted to do two shows, one about gospel music and the other about all the female singers – Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston – who have been tortured in the business. The BBC wanted the gospel one first because it’s my heritage.’
Mica also revisits her childhood church in Lewisham, south London, on the show where she and her two elder sisters and three younger brothers were brought up by strict Pentecostal grandparents.
She said: ‘Church was a community for me. It was a social event. As a kid I had a party trick. I’d hold a note and the room would go, ‘Oohh’.’
Career: As well as singing hit songs in the 80s, Mica has appeared in Fame the Musical on the West End (pictured performing the show on This Morning in 2019)
Mica found fame in the 80s with hits such as My One Temptation and Where is the Love. Her debut album So Good was platinum-selling.
She’s also been a hit on TV, taking over from Trinny and Susannah for two seasons of What Not To Wear and had a Radio 2 show called Mica Meets.
The mother-of-two also appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, getting to the semi-finals, and has had parts in West End musicals such as Fame.
However there have been tough times as well. In 2001 her brother was shot dead after his girlfriend rejected his killer’s advances.
New project: Mica visited the Slave Haven museum for her new show The Gospel According To Mica – The Story Of Gospel Music In Six Songs, which airs on BBC4 on Friday 31 July at 9pm