Somebody's Calling My Name [Paperback]

Wyatt Tee Walker (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Judson Press (December 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817009809
• ISBN-13: 978-0817009809
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reverend Wyatt Tee Walker, African American Civil Rights Leader, September 29, 2010

By 

Larry Ridley "Jazz Artist/Professor" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Somebody's Calling My Name (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book by an expert and legend of the Civil Rights Movement who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Learning to Preach frmo Black Music, June 7, 2007

By 

Sherman Cox "SoulPreaching.Com Website Editor" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Somebody's Calling My Name (Paperback)

Walker provides a glimpse into the characteristics and importance of music to African Americans. It is his contention that music, preaching, and praying are all fundamentals to helping the African American survive in this land. There are a few very helpful and interesting assertions. First on page 25 and 26 he implies that liberation requires spirited music which in some ways is subversive to the dominant cultural idea of more "restrained" worship. This would imply that those churches that do not engage in spirited worship practices might be less inclined to fight for liberation.

Another important thought from the book is that music became the glue that held together all these different African groups who were forced to be together. This glue even held when they took the drum from us and we simply substituted hand claps or foot stomps. (Page 29) Another interesting thought is the idea that the preaching tradition grew out of the singing tradition which can account for the importance of "musical" elements like rhythm and tone in Black preaching.

There are also helpful parts like the purpose of the spiritual on page 47 where he lists 7 including the subversive use of the spirituals to help people make use of the Underground Railroad.

Finally as a preacher, the characteristics of the spiritual on pages 51-63 are especially interesting for they also seem to be characteristics of black preaching. These are: Deep Biblicism, eternality of the message, rhythm, improvisation, double or coded meaning, repetition, and unique imagery. Walker provides a historic background that helps preachers understand where these characteristics came from in the African American preaching tradition.

As an African American Preacher, this book ahs definitely helped my preaching.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, March 11, 2009

By 

E. Tait "Student" (Richmond Va) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Somebody's Calling My Name (Paperback)

Mr. Walker in his "Somebody's calling my name" reveals an understanding of the African-American Spiritual that goes far beyond mere academics. Here lies the result of where scholarship meets experience. Thank you Mr. Walker.