Revival of Buried Kinfolks: Reconnecting African American Family History of Lost and Found Relatives.
FILM CREDITS: The oral history film and photo documentarian is Kanaan Stewart (FSU). The featured interviewees are Raymond Johnson, Wilbert Ferrell, Charles Thompson, Dee Calhoun Rush, George Stanley III, Deloris Sloan, Al Dennis, Charles Jefferson, Roland Gaines, James Ferrell and Ernest Proctor. Another filming by Stan Johnson (FAMU) highlights interviewees Mary Helen Rogers and Gloria Anderson. The Revival of Buried Kinfolks. Oral History interviews are organized by project director Kabuya Pamela Bowens-Saffo.
New book coming soon.
About the Book
The book shares scholarly statements defining oral history as a valuable research, the cultural life experiences of black sharecroppers, tenant farmers and how we acknowledged 250 burials recovered at Munree cemetery recognized through projects involving team work and creative innovation.
The musical lyrics “Lift every voice and sing” was written in 1899 by two brothers James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) and Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954). This song was first a poem and performed by a group of school children in February 1900 to acknowledge the birthday of President Lincoln. Lift Every Voice and Sing is now a national anthem to proudly celebrate unity, hope, resilience and remembering the Emancipation of African Americans. The oral traditions of singing songs with strong feelings do recall special moments and memories in our human experiences. This book celebrates the voice of oral history told in the stories by family relatives and descendants related to the lost and found burials at Munree Cemetery. The voices of the community share passionate and emotional thoughts for the project titled: Revival of Buried Kinfolks: Reconnecting African American Family History of Lost and Found Relatives.
Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won
Songwriters: James Weldon Johnson and Rosamond Johnson