Ella's Song by Bernice Reagon (1973)
Ella's Song was released in 1973, composed by Bernice Johnson Reagon and copyright by Songtalk Publishing Co. [1] The song was from the album We All.. Everyone of Us and Selections 1976-1988. [2]
Bernice Reagon is a leader, composer, scholar, and social activist who founded all-black female a cappella in 1973, Sweet Honey in the Rock based in Washington, D.C. [3]
Black Empowerment
A cappella Publisher Desc dedicated the Ella’s Song to Civil RIghts pioneer Ella Baker. This powerful song shows courage and struggle "We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes." [4]
Ella Josephine Baker is an African-American human rights activist born in 1903 and died in 1986. The songs reflect struggle for freedom and justice, sharing faith in struggling for liberation and religious education practice.
She is a reflection of a pedagogy of liberation convinced that grassroots efforts could empower diverse communities at participatory democracy for the issues of human rights and equality. [5]
Ella had been called as one of the most important African-American leaders in the 20th century and became the most influential women in the civil rights movement. [6]
Here is part of Ella's Song lyrics performed by Bernice Reagon about being anti-racist activist:
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
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 [7]
References
- ↑ https://www.bernicejohnsonreagon.com/2014/12/03/ellas-song/
- ↑ http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/arts/race_songs.html
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernice_Johnson_Reagon
- ↑ https://www.jwpepper.com/Ella%27s-Song/10070647.item#/submit
- ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00344087.2013.805029?journalCode=urea20
- ↑ https://clinicalaffairs.umn.edu/covid-19-updates/sweet-honey-rock-vocalessence-ellas-song
- ↑ https://clinicalaffairs.umn.edu/covid-19-updates/sweet-honey-rock-vocalessence-ellas-song