When the culture is strong, you've got this consistency where black people can grow up in these places with this voice just resonating about our special-ness in the universe. And I always say you're in trouble if you get too far away from that core that grounds you. Bernice Johnson Reagon blackconsistencycore share on social
The Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, actually, was an effort to put something on the mall in Washington so American tourists could walk through America, and in their minds everything on the mall would be American. Bernice Johnson Reagon americaamericaneffort share on social
The first job I had with the Smithsonian was as a field researcher among African American communities in Southwest Louisiana and Arkansas for the festival. Bernice Johnson Reagon africanamericanarkansas Change image and share on social
Well, the first time I ran into the term religion, people were asking whether you had any. You know, some people had religion and some people didn't have religion. Bernice Johnson Reagon peoplereligionrun Change image and share on social
Personally I discovered that you could go through the academy as a young scholar, come out, and almost immediately have an impact on the academic environment. Bernice Johnson Reagon academicacademydiscover Change image and share on social
I just don't think one person has that much to contribute to any subject. Bernice Johnson Reagon contributepersonsubject Change image and share on social
I went to a church where you could not sing out loud in the service until you had been saved. Bernice Johnson Reagon churchloudsave Change image and share on social
I organized Sweet Honey In The Rock in 1973. The music was sanity and balance. Bernice Johnson Reagon balancehoneymusic Change image and share on social
The voice I have now, I got the first time I sang in a movement meeting, after I got out of jail... and I'd never heard it before in my life. Bernice Johnson Reagon hearjaillife Change image and share on social
If I had been at a University I don't think I would have been able to have the experience I had in my Smithsonian work. I don't think I have been as successful. Bernice Johnson Reagon experiencesmithsoniansuccessful Change image and share on social
