No Man Can Hinder Me: The Journey from Slavery to Emancipation Through Song (Includes CD) - Hardcover

Thomas, Velma Maia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0609607197 ISBN 13: 9780609607190

Publisher: Crown, 2001

Synopsis

In an extraordinary book and CD package, the talented, charismatic author of Lest We Forget chronicles the harsh realities of slavery and brilliantly brings to life the spirit of a people determined to be free.

A vibrant legacy of the past and an expression of hope for the future, African-American songs and spirituals formed an oral history during the perilous era of slavery. Illustrated with photographs, drawings, and reproductions of original documents, No Man Can Hinder Me traces the spiritual from its arrival in America to its importance as a mode of secret communication, to its role after Emancipation.

Celebrated author and lecturer Velma Maia Thomas not only tells the story of these songs, she presents more than a dozen glorious examples-many of them never-before-recorded arrangements-on a CD specially created for this book. With performances by Thomas and other well-known vocalists, including members of the Morehouse College Glee Club as well some of Atlanta's foremost gospel singers, the CD evokes a sense of community and the dream of earthly and spiritual freedom that sustained African-Americans through the ordeal of slavery.

About this title

About the Author

Ordained minister at the Shrine of the Black Madonna, Velma Maia Thomas is the creator and curator of the Black Holocaust Exhibit in Atlanta. She was a member of the Howard Gospel Choir at Howard University. Thomas lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

From the Inside Flap

rdinary book and CD package, the talented, charismatic author of <b>Lest We Forget</b> chronicles the harsh realities of slavery and brilliantly brings to life the spirit of a people determined to be free. <br><br>A vibrant legacy of the past and an expression of hope for the future, African-American songs and spirituals formed an oral history during the perilous era of slavery. Illustrated with photographs, drawings, and reproductions of original documents, <b>No Man Can Hinder Me</b> traces the spiritual from its arrival in America to its importance as a mode of secret communication, to its role after Emancipation.<br><br>Celebrated author and lecturer Velma Maia Thomas not only tells the story of these songs, she presents more than a dozen glorious examples-many of them never-before-recorded arrangements-on a CD specially created for this book. With performances by Thomas and other well-known vocalists, including members of the Morehouse College Glee Club as well some of At

Reviews

Adult/High School-The story of Africans in their homeland, in captivity on slave ships, and in North America until shortly after Emancipation is the subject of this brief but powerful book. The accompanying audio CD has 18 selections, several of which are beautifully sung by the author. Reading the text, studying the historical images, and listening to the outstanding music comprise an intensely moving multimedia experience. The book and music start with West Africa, explaining how song and dance were not only entertainment but were educational, sacred, and healing activities as well. Separate chapters are devoted to work songs, spirituals, biblical story songs, love songs, lullabies and children's songs, rebellion and freedom songs, military songs, and emancipation/jubilee songs. The author discusses the importance of the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University in helping to preserve the Negro Spirituals. There's a wealth of research material here; unfortunately, there is no index. The attractive layout features lavish illustrations, foldout pages of supplementary text, and wide almost square pages.
Joyce Fay Fletcher, Rippon Middle School, Prince William County, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Crown
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0609607197
• ISBN 13: 9780609607190
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40