At the young age of twenty-two, Stevie Wonder sang, “When you believe in the things you don't understand / Then you suffer / Superstition is not the right path.” He began his career in the early 1960s, but by 1972 Superstition established Stevie Wonder as one of the most recognizable musicians of his time in American and African-American culture and music. Although music was Wonder's main priority, he also dedicated his time to fighting racism across national and international borders. Musically, socially and politically, Stevie Wonder was able to bring people together with his music and words. From the moment of his birth to the present day, Stevie Wonder has made his way into our hearts and remains one of the most influential people in African-American history. Steveland Hardaway Judkins was born on May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan to Calvin Judkins. and Lula Mae Hardaway. As his current music career was groundbreaking, his family life wasn't so perfect. Calvin and Lula Mae's relationship was difficult and abusive; even before Stevie was born, Calvin was drunk, domestically abusive to Lula, and forced her into prostitution to support the family and Calvin (Ribowsky 10). After Stevie was born, Calvin's mannerism did not change and simply regressed. However, Calvin agreed to move to Detroit with Lula, Stevie, and his two older brothers to work on their relationship and family dynamics (Ribowsky 18). Calvin and Lula's relationship later ended in divorce and a name change for Stevie, as his birth name was changed to Steveland Hardaway Morris. As the third child out of six, he was the only one born blind. Wonder went blind shortly after his premature birth due to being in an incubator for...... middle of paper ......re a legal separation of the races does not mean it is acceptable (Jet). Through his actions in the United States and South Africa he showed the world how to be open to African-American culture and people. Stevie Wonder also sings "Broke the lookin' glass / Seven years of bad luck / Good things in your past" in his 1972 hit Superstition. However, Stevie Wonder has not had bad luck in his musical and political career. Both a member of Rock-and-Roll's Hall of Fame and the United Nations Messenger of Peace, Stevie Wonder brought insights into the minds of the public. Sixty years later, on March 1, 2011, Berry Gordy, Stevie Wonder and other Motown singers gathered once again at the White House to honor Motown music and its beloved singers; this was a celebration of the soulful music that Stevie Wonder and among others once and continue to sing.