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Every Tone a Testimony

Various Artists
Every Tone a Testimony This double CD draws upon the collection at the Smithsonian Folkways archive to create a history of African American life and culture in sound—an aural history. Encompassing both the African American oral and literary traditions, these 59 tracks feature an unparalleled assembly of voices in music, oratory, poetry, and prose by historically renowned African American musicians, writers, and activists. The sounds collected here are testimony to the power, creativity, and resilience of Black expressive forms that have received recognition throughout the world. 59 tracks run two hours and 27 minutes. 40-page booklet.

RELATED LESSON PLAN
"The Underground Railroad:A Musical Journey to Follow the Drinking Gourd"

Track Listing

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101
The Struggle Langston Hughes 00:22
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102
Field Call Annie Grace Horn Dodson 01:19
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103
Complaint Call Enoch Brown 00:44
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104
Intro and Knee Bend Lawrence McKiver and Doretha Skipper 02:55
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105
Brother Terrapin, Slow Train to Arkansas Rich Amerson 02:00
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106
Jack and Mary and Three Dogs Janie Hunter 05:55
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107
Buck Dance (excerpt) Joe Tucker and Scott Dunbar 01:22
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108
I'm Goin' Up North Children of East York School 01:26
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109
Pharaoh's Host Got Lost Lawrence McKiver 01:35
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110
Bars Fight Arna Bontemps 01:26
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111
Earl of Dartmouth (excerpt) Dorothy E. Washington 00:52
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112
I Wonder Where My Brother Gone Annie Grace Horn Dodson 01:20
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113
Narrative (excerpt) Dorothy F. Washington 01:03
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114
Speech at Akron Convention Ruby Dee 02:09
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115
Singing Slaves Ossie Davis 01:04
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116
Steal Away to Jesus Kinsey West 01:54
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117
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? (excerpt) Ossie Davis 02:40
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118
Why Slavery is Still Rampant (excerpt) Ruby Dee 01:49
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119
Free At Last Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward 01:38
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120
When Malindy Sings Margaret Walker 03:49
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121
There's A Great Camp Meeting Fisk Jubilee Singers 02:05
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122
Atlanta Exposition Address Booker T. Washington 01:17
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123
John Henry Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee 04:07
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124
Banjo Player Arna Bontemps 00:45
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125
Boatman Dance Elizabeth Cotten 01:46
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126
Shine Percy Randolph 01:07
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127
Chopping in the New Ground Inmates of Ramsey or Retrieve State Farms 01:41
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128
Lynching, Our National Crime Ruby Dee 03:47
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129
A Recorded Autobiography W.E.B. DuBois and Moses Asch 02:37
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130
Listen Lord, A Prayer Margaret Walker 02:57
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131
My Heart is Fixed Reverend Gary Davis 02:07
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132
The Titanic Lead Belly 04:08
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133
Heritage Countee Cullen 02:59
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134
Jungle Drums James P. Johnson 02:32
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201
No More Auction Block Paul Robeson 02:13
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202
The Negro Speaks of Rivers Langston Hughes 00:47
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203
If We Must Die Claude McKay 01:02
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204
Ma Rainey Sterling Brown 02:06
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205
Backwater Blues Big Bill Broonzy 02:51
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206
Married Man Blues Billie and De De Pierce 05:15
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207
For My People Margaret Walker 05:45
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208
The Children of the Poor, Sonnet 2 Gwendolyn Brooks 00:51
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209
Body and Soul George "Big Nick" Nicholas, John Miller, and Dave Jackson 03:51  
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210
How He Delivered Me Juanita Johnson and the Gospel Tones 02:43
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211
Long Distance Calls Muddy Waters and Otis Spann 07:00
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212
Cry To Me Solomon Burke, Marc Ribot, and the Realtones 02:16  
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213
Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around The Freedom Singers 02:34
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214
Birmingham 1963 - Keep Moving Martin Luther King, Jr. 03:46
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215
Black Panther Party Platform Bobby Seale 03:02
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216
Interview (excerpt) Angela Davis 01:06
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217
Together to the Tune of Coltrane's "Equinox" (excerpt) Sarah Webster Fabio, Wayne Wallace, and Ronald Fabio 01:42
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218
Nikki-Rosa Nikki Giovanni 01:16
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219
liberation/poem Sonia Sanchez 00:39
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220
Dope Imamu Amiri Baraka 04:49
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221
The Village of Brooklyn, Illinois 62059 (excerpt) Hamiet Bluiett 03:35  
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222
For the Poets Jayne Cortez 03:58
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223
Shotgun Joe The Golden Eagles 05:23  
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224
St. Louis Woman Ishmael Reed 01:26
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225
People Everyday Arrested Development 03:27