Songs Of Slavery & Emancipation / Various Songs Of Slavery & Emancipation / Various CD

To those songs I trace my first glimmering conception of the dehumanizing character of slavery. I can never get rid of that conception. Those songs still follow me, to deepen my hatred of slavery, and quicken my sympathies for my brethren in bonds. - Frederick Douglass. The 'Songs Of Slavery and Emancipation' project presents recently discovered songs composed by enslaved people and explicitly calling for resistance to slavery. Some originate as early as 1800 and others as late as the outbreak of the Civil War. The project also includes long-lost songs of the abolitionist movement, some of which were written by fugitive slaves as well as free black people, challenging common misconceptions of abolitionism. Thirty one songs are presented in a double CD containing new performances in a traditional style.ß An accompanying 80 page liner notes includes complete lyrics as well as reproductions of historic documents.ß The liner notes also include essays by producer Mat Callahan, scholar Robin D.G. Kelley and activist organizer Kali Akuno. A companion full length book documents the sources of these newly released songs, as well as providing historic context. The CDs and book will be published in June 2022 by the University Press of Mississippi in conjunction with Jalopy Records.

1. Agonizing, Cruel Slavery Days 2. The Dirge of St. Malo (Louisiana Creole) 3. The Dirge of St. Malo (English) 4. Hymn of Freedom 5. Uncle Gabriel the Negro General 6. The Negro's Complaint 7. Recognition March of the Independance of Hayti 8. The African Hymn 9. Nat Turner 10. My Father, How Long? 11. March On 12. Children, We All Shall Be Free 13. Ol' Massa He Come Dancing Out 14. The Year of Jubilo 15. The Enlisted Men (the Negro Battle Hymn) 16. Rebeldia na Bandabou 17. Song of the ôAliened Americanö 18. A Song for Freedom 19. Stole and Sold From Africa 20. Right On! 21. Flight of the Bondman 22. The Underground Railroad 23. To The White People of America 24. Liberty 25. The Band of Thieves 26. The True Spirit 27. Come Join The Abolitionists 28. The Voice of Six Hundred Thousand Nominally Free 29. WeÆre Coming! WeÆre Coming! 30. Woman's Rights 31. What Mean Ye?