Ghetto Reality

Nancy Dupree initially found her elementary school music students in Rochester, NY resistant to participation in class. Once she dropped the standard literature (which asked "Mr. Bear" to "come and play") and began composing music that bore relevancy to contemporary society and to their very tuned-in and grownup interests, she found they immediately took to performing. Her songs addressed the contributions icons James Brown and Jelly Roll Morton made to society, the intangible assets each child naturally possessed ("What do I have? Guts...heart...and soul") and fighting for civil rights ("I want my freedom; I want it now"). Not only did singing about meaningful issues in real musical styles reveal the immense talents the students had, but it gave all a critical lesson in empowerment.

Track Listing

101	What Do I Have?	Nancy Dupree	03:01
102	James Brown	Nancy Dupree	02:48
103	Bag Snatchin'	Nancy Dupree	02:46
104	Docta King	Nancy Dupree	05:35
105	Virgin Mary	Nancy Dupree	03:00
201	I Want	Nancy Dupree	03:34
202	Frankenstein	Nancy Dupree	00:55
203	Cold	Nancy Dupree	02:16
204	Jingle Bells	Nancy Dupree	03:48
205	Call Baby Jesus	Nancy Dupree	04:12