Speech by Bernice Johnson Reagon, given November 11, 1980 at Barnard College's Reid Lectureship Women's Issues Luncheon, titled "My Black Mothers and Sisters: On Beginning a Cultural Autobiography." Tape begins with Reagon singing a poem by June Jordan. She speaks of Black women's roles in her mother's generation, the courageous actions of Fannie Lou Townsend Hamer [1917-1977] to register to vote, the Civil Rights Movement, and the need to act in the 1980s. She is a founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock (a Black singing group) started in 1973. 47:00 red leader followed by Question and Answer section. Reagon explains the start of Sweet Honey in the Rock and her work at the Smithsonian Institute on Black American Culture (collecting spirituals and gospel music). Not self-contained. Some edits during speech.
PRA metadata viewThis recording has been digitally preserved as part of Pacifica's American Women Making History and Culture: 1963-1982 grant preservation project, and is available for research and reference . Please contact the archives via telephone: 818-506-1077 or email: americanwomen at pacificaradioarchives dot org for information on how to obtain a copy of this program. Thank you.
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