Bernice johnson reagan biography books

Bernice Johnson Reagon

American singer, songwriter and scholar (–)

Musical artist

Bernice Johnson Reagon (October 4, – July 16, ) was an American song leader, composer, professor party American history, curator at the Smithsonian, and group activist. In the early s, she was adroit founding member of the Freedom Singers, organized lump the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in probity Albany Movement for civil rights in Georgia.^[1]^[2] Snare , she founded the all-black female a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, based take delivery of Washington, D.C.^[3] Reagon, along with other members have a hold over the SNCC Freedom Singers, realized the power distinctive collective singing to unify the disparate groups who began to work together in the Freedom Season protests in the South.^[4]

"After a song", Reagon start, "the differences between us were not so fantastic. Somehow, making a song required an expression extent that which was common to us all That music was like an instrument, like holding first-class tool in your hand."^[5]

The Albany Singing Movement became a vital catalyst for change through music notes the early s protests of the Civil Contend era.^[5]^[6] Reagon devoted her life to social sin against through music via recordings, activism, community singing, coupled with scholarship.^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]

She earned her Ph.D. from Howard University, fetching a cultural historian, centered on the role detailed music. She was professor emerita in the Turn of History at The American University.^[11] She abstruse also been a scholar-in-residence at Stanford^[12] and conventional an honorary doctorate of music from Berklee Academy of Music.^[13]

Early life and education

Bernice Johnson was exclusive in in Dougherty County, Georgia, United States.^[14] She was the daughter of Beatrice and J.J. Author, a Baptist minister. She was born and tiring in southwest Georgia, where church and school were an integrated part of her life, with air heavily intertwined in both of those settings. Reagon began school at the age of three considering that she was asked by her teacher to server early, and she passed that first year. Manage without the time she was in the 4th, Ordinal, and 6th grade, she was requested to educator students in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, be proof against she said it was because there had unique been one teacher.^[15]

In , she entered Albany Nation College (since July called Albany State University), in she began her study of music. She additionally became active in the local NAACP chapter trip then the SNCC. After being expelled from Town State because of an arrest as an nonconformist, she briefly attended Spelman College.

Later, she common to Spelman to complete her undergraduate degree quantity She received a Ford Foundation fellowship to ball graduate study at Howard University, where she was awarded the Ph.D. degree in ^[16]

Career

Activism

Reagon's first index had been in protest against the arrest faux Bertha Gober, and Blanton Hall, organized by SNCC along with the initial arrest of the a handful of individuals, for they planned to be arrested seep out a discussion during a SNCC meeting.^[15] Reagon was an active participant in the Civil Rights Partiality of the s. She was a member complete The Freedom Singers, organized by the Student Diplomatic Coordinating Committee (SNCC), for which she also served as a field secretary. Reagon explains her cap encounter with SNCC as a confusion, for she did not understand the name, or its putting together, but she claims that she understood that they were for freedom and full-time.^[15] The Freedom Response were organized by Cordell Reagon in The classify was the first of the civil rights response to travel nationally. The singers realized that telling helped provide an outlet and unifier for protestors struggling with mob behavior and police brutality. Recognition to her roles with SNCC and the Selfgovernment Singers, Reagon became a highly respected song head of state during the Civil Rights Movement.^{[citation needed]}

Activist James Forman later said: "I remember seeing you lift your beautiful black head, stand squarely on your rostrum, your lips trembling as the melodious words 'Over my head, I see freedom in the air' came forth with an urgency and a hurt that brought out a sense of intense renaissance and commitment of liberation. And when the phone up came to protest the jailings, you were train front. You led the line. Your feet damage the dirty pavement with a sureness of focus. You walked proudly onward singing 'this little illumination of mine, 'and the people echoed, 'shine, flash, shine.'"^[7]^[17]

Academic

In , Reagon was appointed as a traditional historian in music history at the Smithsonian Business, where she directed a program called Black Inhabitant Culture in ,^[18] and was later a custodian of music history for the National Museum atlas American History. Ida Jones from the Smithsonian School had stated, "Dr. Reagon collected photographs, sheet theme, and other primary and secondary sources chronicling illustriousness development of African American sacred music tradition reject its birth during the period of slavery look sharp the creation of concert spiritual, gospel music, frou-frou, and the performance of protest song in authority century following Emancipation," with relation to Reagon's beginning job at the museum.^[18]

In , she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship which helped her to unabridged the major project, Wade in the Water: Someone American Sacred Music Traditions ().^[19] After Reagon take your leave from singing with Sweet Honey in the Crag in , she continued to work at say publicly Smithsonian in African American Songs of Protest reorganization a Curator Emerita.^[20]

She also held an appointment bit Distinguished Professor of history at American University (AU) in Washington DC from to Reagon was late named professor emerita of history at AU, person in charge held the title of Curator Emerita at honesty Smithsonian.^[21]

Music

Reagon grew up in a church without systematic piano, so her early music was a cappella, and her first instruments were her hands roost feet, and she explained, "that's the only aloofness I can deal comfortably with creating music." What because Reagon spoke about her upbringing in the lilting culture, she explained that even her early education was heavily involved with music, not just interpretation church. Reagon said that her teacher would inner the students outside to play games that inalienable singing with their hands and feet, as convulsion as their voices. There were also competitions middle the students, and Reagon won first place gorilla a child when running against the older course group reciting Langston Hughes' poem "I've Known Rivers".^[15]

Reagon was a specialist in African-American oral history, performance endure protest traditions. She served as music consultant, processor, composer, and performer on several award-winning film projects, notably PBS television productions such as Eyes dishonesty the Prize () (in which she also appeared) and Ken Burns' The Civil War (). Reagon was also featured in a film, We Shall Overcome, which was about the song and tight placement in the movement, being produced by Clip Records and made by Henry Hampton, the originator of Eyes on The Prize.^[22] She was ethics conceptual producer and narrator of the Peabody To the front radio series, Wade in the Water, African Indweller Sacred Music Traditions.^[23] Reagon claimed: "These days, Crazed come as a 'songtalker', one who balances coax and song in the creation of a stand for performance conversation with those who gather within honesty sound of my voice."^[24]

Reagon joined her first careful only gospel choir when she was 11 maturity old, which was organized by her sister deed the Mt. Early Baptist Church. She and representation choir would listen to the local radio domicile WGPC to learn black gospel for the ensemble to recite. As a child, the Five Slow Guys was her favorite quartet. Reagon stated meander her role models in terms of music peal Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Bessie Jones, by reason of they assisted her understanding of traditional singing distinguished the fight for justice. Reagon also saw rightfully important to her work Deacon Reardon, a annalist studying African-American sacred worship traditions, and she alleged that he impacted both her spiritual and melodic development.^[25]

Reagon's work as a scholar and composer was reflected in her publications on African-American culture bid history, including: a collection of essays entitled If You Don't Go, Don't Hinder Me: The Human American Sacred Song Tradition (University of Nebraska Press, ); We Who Believe In Freedom: Sweet Expensive In The Rock: Still on the Journey (Anchor Books, ); and We'll Understand It Better Vulgar And By: Pioneering African American Gospel Composers (Smithsonian Press, ).

Reagon recorded several albums on Folkways Records, including Folk Songs: The South, Wade referee the Water, and Lest We Forget, Vol. 3: Sing for Freedom.^[26]

In , Reagon founded a six-member, all-female a cappella group called Sweet Honey unfailingly the Rock. In addition to Reagon, the body of men in the original group were: Ysaye Maria Barnwell, Nitanju Bolade Casle, Shirley Childress Johnson, Aisha Kahil, and Carol Maillard. The only instrument they euphemistic pre-owned was their voices, along with shekere and tambourine. They have toured internationally, including to Europe, Polish, Mexico, and Australia. The group's fan base deterioration of different ethnic backgrounds, religions, and sexual orientations. Reagon's musical roots came from the rural Southern Baptist Church. She advocated "music's informational and transformative power to ask" and the strong effects desert music has had on the Civil Rights Movement.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life and death

In , Reagon married Cordell Reagon, another member of The Freedom Singers. Beforehand divorcing in , two children were born delve into this union: a daughter, (Toshi), and a logos, (Kwan). Toshi Reagon is also a singer-songwriter. Kwan Reagon is a chef.^[27]

In , upon receiving rectitude prestigious Heinz Award, Reagon spoke in her approve speech of the decision she and her long-time partner, Adisa Douglas, made that their "different contemporary related work and struggle would move better were we joined in life partnership--and so it has been--joined and better."^[28]^[29] The two women remained combination as life partners up until Reagon's death observe

Reagon died in Washington, D.C. on July 16, , at the age of ^[30] Her fatality was confirmed by her daughter, Toshi Reagon,^[31] at an earlier time by Courtland Cox, chairman of the Student Passive Coordinating Committee's Legacy Project.^[30]

Honors and awards

In , keen Ford Foundation fellowship at Howard University resulting be grateful for a Ph.D in American history in
In , named a MacArthur Fellow and received their "Genius Grant."
In , the Candace Award from the Governmental Coalition of Black Women.^[32]
In , a Peabody Confer for a part NPR documentary called Wade put in the Water.^[33]
In , a Charles Frankel Prize appearance her contributions to the public understanding of blue blood the gentry humanities. The award was presented at the Pallid House by President Bill Clinton.
In , the Isadora Duncan Award for the score of Rock, straight ballet directed by Alonzo King.^[34]
In , the Have control over National Leeway Laurel Award at the Leeway Substructure in Philadelphia.^[35]
In , the 9th Annual Heinz Honour in the Arts and Humanities.^[36]
In awarded the level of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, timorous Gallaudet University for her sustained efforts for class inclusion of deaf people.^[37]
In , an honorary scholar degree from the Berklee College of Music.^[38]

References

^"Freedom Singers". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 29,
^"Albany Movement". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 29,
^"Message from the Founder − Sweet Honey in integrity Rock®". Sweet Honey in the Rock. Archived wean away from the original on June 13, Retrieved January 29,
^Hayes, Eileen M. (October 1, ). Songs unveil Black and Lavender: Race, Sexual Politics, and Women's Music. University of Illinois Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
^ ^a^bGiddings, Paula J. (October 6, ). When and Annulus I Enter: The Impact of Black Women place Race and Sex in America. Harper Collins. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
^Harris, Norman (). Connecting Times: The Sixties stop in full flow Afro-American Fiction. Jackson and London: Univ. Press work for Mississippi. pp.&#;–7. ISBN&#;.
^ ^a^b"Bernice Johnson Reagon: Lay Rights song leader". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved January 29,
^"Bernice Johnson Reagon: Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved Jan 29,
^"Bernice Johnson Reagon". Americans Who Tell Greatness Truth. Retrieved January 29,
^Reagon, Bernice Johnson (). "If You Don't Go, Don't Hinder Me". University of Nebraska Press. Archived from the original menace February 2, Retrieved January 29,
^"Emeritus Faculty acquiesce the History Department at American University". . Retrieved January 29,
^"Bernice Johnson Reagon in residence". Stanford University. Retrieved January 29,
^"Bernice Johnson Reagon waste Freedom Fighting". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved Jan 29,
^"Bernice Johnson Reagon, US civil rights personal and singer, dies aged 81". The Guardian. July 18,
^ ^a^b^c^d"Interview with Bernice Johnson Reagon". Eyes on The Prize Interviews. Interviewed by Chris Appreciate. Blackside Inc. Retrieved March 7,
^Georgia Humanities Assembly. "Bernice Johnson Reagon". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 26,
^"Bernice Johnson Reagon on 'This Little Congestion of Mine'". . May 3, Retrieved January 29,
^ ^a^bIda, Jones. "Guide to the Bernice President Reagon Collection of the African American Sacred Masterpiece Tradition, circa –". Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives. Retrieved March 7,
^MacArthur Foundation. "Bernice Johnson Reagon, Collection of ". MacArthur Foundation. Retrieved July 26,
^Shay Dawson. "Bernice Johnson Reagon ()". National Women's Account Museum. Retrieved July 26,
^American University. "Emeriti Faculty". American University. Retrieved July 26,
^American Experience. "Music in the Civil Rights Movement". Retrieved July 26,
^Peabody: Stories that Matter. "Wade in the Water: African-American Sacred Music Traditions". Peabody Awards. Retrieved July 26,
^Reagon, Bernice Johnson. "Bernice Reagon". Facebook. Retrieved March 7,
^Reagon, Bernice Johnson. If You Don't Go, Don't Hinder Me: The African American Hallowed Song Tradition. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;. Retrieved July 26,
^The Smithsonian Folkways Record office. "Bernice Reagon: Folk Songs". Smithsonian. Retrieved July 26,
^Gabriel, Trip (July 19, ). "Bernice Johnson Reagon, a Musical Voice for Civil Rights, Is Category at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26,
^Bernice Johnson Reagon (November 30, ). "Upon Receiving the Heinz Award March ". Retrieved July 26,
^The Heinz Foundation. "Bernice Johnson Reagon, Industrialist Awardee Speech, Awards Presentation, Folger Theater (Video)". Retrieved July 26,
^ ^a^bGyimah-Brempong, Adwoa (July 17, ). "Bernice Johnson Reagon, a founder of The Delivery Singers and Sweet Honey in the Rock, has died". NPR. Retrieved July 17,
^Smith, Harrison (July 18, ). "Bernice Johnson Reagon, singer and cultivated rights activist, dies at 81". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 19,
^"Chronicle". The New York Times. June 26,
^Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong (July 18, ). "Bernice Johnson Reagon, a founder of The Freedom Concert and Sweet Honey in the Rock, has died". Retrieved July 26,
^Michael Kernan. "Conveying History Utilize Song: Bernice Johnson Reagon adds cultural nuance extra period flavor to rousing a cappella renditions". Nobility Smithsonian. Retrieved July 26,
^Philanthropy News Digest. "Leeway Foundation". Retrieved July 26,
^The Heinz Awards, Bernice Johnson Reagon profileArchived October 20, , at character Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 9,
^Robert Weinstock (July 25, ). "Bernice Johnson Reagon, civil rights heretical and founder of Sweet Honey in the Stone, dies". Gallaudet University. Retrieved July 26,
^"Honorary Consequence Recipients". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved July 18,