After the film on Thursday, Michael played a song from the group Sweet Honey in the Rock called "Ella's Song", based on the life and writings of Ella Jo Baker, the intellectual and spiritual mentor of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Here are the lyrics:
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons
Is as important as the kiling of white men, white mothers' sons
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
That which touches me most is that I had a chance to work with people
Passing on to others, that which was passed on to me
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail
And if I can but shed some light, as they carry us through the gale
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on
Is when the reins are in the hand of the young, who dare to run against the storm
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Not needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on me
I need to be one in the number, as we stand against tyranny
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Struggling myself don't mean a whole lot, I've come to realize
That teaching others to stand and fight is the only way my struggle survives
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
I'm a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard
At times I can be quite difficult, I'll bow to no man's word.
We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Words and music by Bernice Johnson Reagon
Comments