I love Motown, that whole era. Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson. I

Hear the words of Tika Sumpter, spoken with joy and remembrance: “I love Motown, that whole era. Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson. I just put on Pandora, and put it on Motown, and it makes me smile; makes me smile so much.” Though spoken simply, these words hold a timeless teaching. They reveal how music is not only sound, but spirit—how the voices of the past continue to echo in our hearts, bringing light to our present. For the songs of Motown were not mere entertainment; they were vessels of memory, of resilience, of love, and of unity.

The origin of this quote lies in the golden age of American soul, when Motown rose from Detroit like a new sun. Founded by Berry Gordy, Motown became not only a record label, but a movement that carried voices such as Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, and Stevie Wonder into the homes of millions. In a time of division and strife, their music was balm and fire together—soft enough to soothe the weary, yet strong enough to break down walls of prejudice. To listen to Motown, then and now, is to listen to history itself singing with courage and tenderness.

Tika’s words remind us that the songs of that age were not bound to the past; they live on, eternal. To press play and hear Smokey Robinson’s smooth tones, or Marvin Gaye’s soulful cry, is to be lifted beyond time. A smile arises not only because the melodies are sweet, but because they carry the spirit of joy that was born from hardship. They are proof that even in struggle, beauty can rise, and even in sorrow, love can be sung.

History itself offers us a tale to illustrate this. In 1968, as the United States trembled with unrest, Marvin Gaye released “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” That song became an anthem, a voice of suspicion and yearning, yet it gave strength to those who felt unheard. Soon after, his masterpiece “What’s Going On” would question war, injustice, and suffering, not with hatred but with compassion. These songs did not simply entertain—they shaped a generation, and they continue to inspire. Just as Tika Sumpter smiles at their sound, so too did millions find solace and hope in those harmonies.

The meaning of her joy, then, is this: that music has the power to heal and connect. It binds the generations, reminding us of what has been endured and what has been overcome. It turns the heaviness of history into the lightness of rhythm, allowing us to carry the past with dignity rather than despair. When Tika smiles at Motown, she joins a long line of listeners who have found in those songs a reason to keep moving forward.

The lesson for us is clear: seek out the music, the art, the traditions that lift your spirit. Do not allow the weight of the world to rob you of joy. Return to the sounds, the stories, the memories that remind you of who you are and where you come from. For music, when it is true, is more than a pastime—it is a medicine for the soul.

And so, my children, let practical wisdom be drawn from this: each day, carve out a moment to surround yourself with beauty. Put on the songs that stir your heart, whether they be Motown, folk, jazz, or hymns. Let them awaken your memory, let them call forth your smile. For in smiling, you not only honor the music, but you pass on its light to others.

Thus, remember this truth: music is the bridge between sorrow and joy, between past and future. When you listen with your heart, you do more than hear—you join in a great chorus of humanity, stretching across time. Let the music you love remind you to smile, and in that smile, you will carry forward the resilience and beauty of all who came before.