In an interview today on WBIA, Bernice Johnson Reagon discussed her activism, her career and work, Ella Baker, U.S. history, context and current affairs.
African American woman’s voice, child of Southwest Georgia, voice raised in song, born in the struggle against racism in America during the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s, Bernice Johnson Reagon has been a major cultural voice for freedom and justice. She is a composer, singer, song leader, scholar and producer. Four decades ago, Bernice Johnson Reagon organized Sweet Honey In The Rock.
She is the composer of
“Ella’s Song”
Ccopyright: Songtalk Publishing Co.
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Until the killing of Black men, Black mothers’ sons
Is as important as the killing of White men, White mothers’ sons
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
… That which touches me most is that I had a chance to work with people
Passing on to others that which was passed on to me
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail
… If I can shed some light as they carry us through the gale
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on
Is when the reins are in the hand of the young who dare to run against the storm
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Not needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on me
I need to be just one in the number as we stand against tyranny
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Struggling myself don’t mean a whole lot I come to realize
…Teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survives
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
I’m a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard
At time I can be quite difficult, I’ll bow to no man’s word
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Bernice Johnson Reagon is the composer Ella’s Song copyright: Songtalk Publishing Co.
http://www.bernicejohnsonreagon.com/ella.shtml
http://www.bernicejohnsonreagon.com/
Bernice Johnson Reagon was in interview live on WBAI, New York City, May 3, 2010, http://wbai.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=4&id=221&Itemid=135
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