“Joy and Pain” is one of Frankie Beverly & Maze’s timeless hits, beautifully captivating healing and hardship. But there’s another duo tied to Beverly that speaks volumes - without ever using a single note.
Beverly and all-white were synonymous. In traditional Yoruba spirituality, wearing pure white symbolizes holiness and purity, and it was an unmistakable presence that elevated the legend’s performances.
By the 1990s, all-white parties had gained popularity, celebrating Black beauty and our coming together. Chicago locals from Beverly’s neighborhood shared those sentiments when it came to his shows. As one concertgoer put it, “The idea of white is beauty. White is pure, and in all of the concerts, when he does come here, we wear white.”
Even Beverly’s commitment to the Maze band group for over 50 years, although he could have easily gone solo, further displays how pure his intentions are when it comes to unity, just like the symbolic color. He once said: “if you are lucky enough to travel around the world, you’ll find we’re all the same and want the same thing: love!
We can honor Frankie Beverly by adopting this all-white tradition and embodying the collective spirit he infused into his performances. His wearing of white truly shows that we are one, and our liberation will see us through.