Roberta Flack’s Homecoming: A Legacy of Love, Resistance, and Redemption

Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church became sacred ground on this historic afternoon, a space where music royalty, political dignitaries, and admirers gathered to bid farewell to the incomparable Roberta Flack. Three hours and fifteen minutes of testimony—spoken and sung—rose beyond those church walls, lifting her homeward. If you were there, you bore witness to something far greater than a service. You bore witness to legacy.

Roberta Flack was not just a singer, not merely a songwriter—she was an institution. Her music was a form of resistance. A quiet fire that burned against the limitations placed on Black artistry. She wrote about love, but her very existence was an act of love. She composed with classical precision, a virtuosity that left no room for dismissal. Even the establishment, even the gatekeepers, had to stand back and acknowledge the undeniable.

Her voice—crystal clear, commanding yet tender—became the foundation upon which generations of artists would build. She raised us all. She shaped us all. And she dignified us all, using her music to proclaim our worth.

The Soundtrack of a Lifetime

Roberta Flack’s music wasn’t just something I listened to—it was woven into the very fabric of my existence. The first bit of music I was ever introduced to as a young boy? “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” And then, of course, “Killing Me Softly”—the song that could stop time. But my favorite? “There’s More to Love Than Making Love.”

I ran Roberta’s vinyl OUT, do you hear me!? The grooves I created in those albums were not factory-made but man-made—by me! Those records became more than music; they became markers of my childhood, my coming of age, my understanding of life and love.

And then I grew up, found my place in the industry, and suddenly, I wasn’t just a fan—I was in rooms where Roberta Flack stood. The ASCAP awards. Industry functions. Moments where we took pictures together. Where we talked. Where I was in the presence of greatness. And let me tell you, it rubbed off.

She told stories through music, and I told stories in books. But what moves me most about these encounters—what makes this farewell so deeply personal—is the reminder that we’re here for such a short while. We are challenged to create, to craft a legacy that will move generations beyond. To not just exist, but to make an impact.

And Roberta? She did all of the above.

To the world, she is the melody that moves us, that flows through us, that enriches us. But to me? She was the artist who shaped my soul, who laid the foundation for how I would express my own creativity. She was down to earth in my presence, but to the world, she is—and will forever be—legend.

Lauryn Hill’s Redemption and The Power of Forgiveness

For all the criticism Lauryn Hill has endured over the years—her tardiness, her defiance, her fallouts with the industry—today was a moment of redemption. Standing at this homecoming, Lauryn Hill showed up fully. She honored Roberta Flack not just with her presence but with the sincerity of her words. She closed a gap, unified, and healed wounds—both hers and ours.

If you have ever held onto disappointment toward Lauryn Hill, if you have ever judged her career missteps, today was a moment to let it go. Too much division has weighed down the music industry, and Roberta Flack’s life was about healing. She was the soundtrack to love, to dignity, to overcoming. What better way to honor her than to forgive?

Lauryn Hill has had her public battles:

• November 2023: She addressed her lateness on stage, declaring, “Y’all lucky I make it on this stage every night!”
• August 2018: She penned a detailed rebuttal to Robert Glasper’s claims about her creative process.
• October 2024: She dismissed Pras Michel’s lawsuit as baseless, standing her ground.

But today, she was simply Lauryn Hill—the artist, the woman, the vessel of tribute. And today, she shined. It was, perhaps, the most defining moment of her career.

A Legacy Passed Down

Roberta Flack’s music was an inheritance—passed down to those of us fortunate enough to grow up with it. For those of us introduced to Donny Hathaway through her collaborations, we came to understand that music is not just melody; it is message, it is history, it is power.

She left us rich—not in money, but in soul. She left us with music as wealth, a trust fund of artistry and dignity. And in this moment, standing in that church, surrounded by giants, it became clear: Roberta Flack is forever.

We honor her. We adore her. We thank her.

Well done, Queen. Well done.