10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most exciting resource for American History!, August 27, 2001
This review is from: Every Tone a Testimony (Audio CD)
This is without a doubt the most exciting American History resource to cross my desk in years! It contains 59 tracks (nearly two and a half hours) of material drawn from the Smithsonian Folkways archive, organized to create a history of African American life and culture in sound. It presents music, poetry, oratory and prose by historically renowned African American musicians, writers and activists spanning two centuries. Just a sampling of the diverse voices you'll hear include Langston Hughes, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B.Du Bois, Margaret Walker, the Fisk Jubliee Singers, Gwendolyn Brooks, Paul Robeson, Muddy Waters, the SNCC Freedom Singers , Martin Luther King, Jr, Nikki Giovanni, and Arrested Development. Writers who predate recorded sound are also represented in historic recordings; for example, Arna Bontemps reads the writings of Lucy Terry, Ruby Dee reads Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. I was especially impressed by the equal representation of women. It also includes an extensive booklet with supplemental material. Anyone who teaches American History or African American Studies cannot afford to be without this CD, and anyone who loves aural history will want it in their collection. It's invaluable.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
