I organized Sweet Honey In The Rock in 1973. The music was sanity and balance.
“I organized Sweet Honey In The Rock in 1973. The music was sanity and balance.” Bernice Johnson Reagon
The first job I had with the Smithsonian was as a field researcher among African American communities in Southwest Louisiana and Arkansas for the festival.
“The first job I had with the Smithsonian was as a field researcher among African American communities in Southwest Louisiana and Arkansas for the festival.” … Read More
Welcome to prekindergarten! You will not die if you discover that there are more lines out there than just your own. In fact, you’ll discover that you will have an advantage if you know more of them!
“Welcome to prekindergarten! You will not die if you discover that there are more lines out there than just your own. In fact, you’ll discover … Read More
In fact when Sweet Honey was ten years old it was too big for me to run, and I knew it, but I ran it for another thirteen years because I couldn’t convince other people to really do it. And this year, I’m not running it.
“In fact when Sweet Honey was ten years old it was too big for me to run, and I knew it, but I ran it … Read More
Most people come out of their Ph.D. experience trying to prove themselves, trying to get ahead, trying to get published. You’re scared everybody else is going to do your research and get your topic.
“Most people come out of their Ph.D. experience trying to prove themselves, trying to get ahead, trying to get published. You’re scared everybody else is … Read More
Personally I discovered that you could go through the academy as a young scholar, come out, and almost immediately have an impact on the academic environment.
“Personally I discovered that you could go through the academy as a young scholar, come out, and almost immediately have an impact on the academic … Read More
What would you be like if you had white hair and had not given up your principles? It might be wise as you deal with coalition efforts to think about the possibilities of going for fifty years.
“What would you be like if you had white hair and had not given up your principles? It might be wise as you deal with … Read More
I came out of the Civil Rights Movement, and I had a different kind of focus than most people who have just the academic background as their primary training experience
“I came out of the Civil Rights Movement, and I had a different kind of focus than most people who have just the academic background … Read More
Well, the first time I ran into the term religion, people were asking whether you had any. You know, some people had religion and some people didn’t have religion
“Well, the first time I ran into the term religion, people were asking whether you had any. You know, some people had religion and some … Read More
And I used to think that proof that I had religion was whether I knew how to sing all of the songs.
“And I used to think that proof that I had religion was whether I knew how to sing all of the songs.” Bernice Johnson … Read More
The Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, actually, was an effort to put something on the mall in Washington so American tourists could walk through America, and in their minds everything on the mall would be American
“The Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, actually, was an effort to put something on the mall in Washington so American tourists could walk through America, … Read More
If we dwell in a community that is comfortable, then it’s probably not broad enough a coalition.
“If we dwell in a community that is comfortable, then it’s probably not broad enough a coalition.” Bernice Johnson Reagon
I just don’t think one person has that much to contribute to any subject
“I just don’t think one person has that much to contribute to any subject” Bernice Johnson Reagon
I think the Civil Rights Movement changed that trajectory for me. The first thing I did was leave school. I was suspended for my participation in Movement demonstrations in my hometown, December, 1961
“I think the Civil Rights Movement changed that trajectory for me. The first thing I did was leave school. I was suspended for my participation … Read More
If I had been at a University I don’t think I would have been able to have the experience I had in my Smithsonian work. I don’t think I have been as successful
“If I had been at a University I don’t think I would have been able to have the experience I had in my Smithsonian work. … Read More
Today whenever women gather together it is not necessarily nurturing. It is coalition building. And if you feel the strain, you may be doing some good work.
“Today whenever women gather together it is not necessarily nurturing. It is coalition building. And if you feel the strain, you may be doing some … Read More
At the same time all this was happening, there was a folk song revival movement goingon, so the commercial music industry was actually changed by the Civil Rights Movement.
“At the same time all this was happening, there was a folk song revival movement goingon, so the commercial music industry was actually changed by … Read More
It makes sense that whatever the topic is, it’s more compelling if you can provide the audience with a range of perspectives, and you can cross disciplines. And you don’t have to control what people take out of it.
“It makes sense that whatever the topic is, it’s more compelling if you can provide the audience with a range of perspectives, and you can … Read More
I went to a church where you could not sing out loud in the service until you had been saved
“I went to a church where you could not sing out loud in the service until you had been saved” Bernice Johnson Reagon
Coming up in the African-American culture, we were taught that we belonged to the universe and society was wrong in the way it dealt with us. We had to learn to express and affirm values not from the winning position.
“Coming up in the African-American culture, we were taught that we belonged to the universe and society was wrong in the way it dealt with … Read More