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

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