Name: Are you Ready?
Duration: P00H02M49S
Description: This track imagines Phillis Wheatley as a young child meeting her best friend Obour on a slave ship.

Are you Ready?

from Phillis Wheatley: From Africa to America and Beyond by Amanda Kemp

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
20 Tracks of African American spirituals, poetry and letters by 18th century poet Phillis Wheatley and original narration by Dr. Amanda Kemp.

Includes unlimited streaming of Phillis Wheatley: From Africa to America and Beyond via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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DVD
Powerful story of 3 female historical figures who defied the limits of slavery to change history. Uplifting and suitable for kids aged 8 and adults. Haunting African American spirituals, beautiful African dance flawlessly acted.

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about

This track imagines Phillis Wheatley as a young child meeting her best friend Obour on a slave ship.

lyrics

Are you ready?
Please get ready.
I tell a tale that's not pretty but real.
Are you ready?
Please get ready.
I bring you tidings from letters without seal.
Phillis Wheatley a slave celebrity in her time.
Obour Tanner her fellow slave in a friendship sublime.

Are you ready?
Please get ready.
I tell a tale that's not pretty but real.
Are you ready?
Please get ready.
I bring you tidings from letters without seal.

Get ready...
Two little girls, friends fast
met some say on a ship from Africa last
Not a ferry that goes to a fro
Not a cruise ship where the lucky may go
But a slave ship with Africans packed
Head to foot; chained leg to leg;
The sick beside the dying,
The dying beside the dead
Are you ready?
Little one and medium ones
Black ones and brown ones
pink ones and tan ones
Frail ones and sound ones.
Little ones and medium ones
Black ones and brown ones
Pink ones and tan ones
Frail ones and sound ones
Please get ready
The tale I tell for you to hear
Please get ready
Of two little girls without parents near
Please get ready
The tale I tell for you to hear
Please get ready
Of two little girls without parents near
Please get ready
Phillis Wheatley, a slave celebrity in her time
Obour Tanner, her fellow slave in a friendship sublime
You,
Gather round.

credits

from Phillis Wheatley: From Africa to America and Beyond, released November 6, 2015
music by Vanessa Ballard and Deborah Billups
Lyrics by Amanda Kemp

license

about

Amanda Kemp Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Ready to change the world? Let's do it together--one song, one poem, one conversation, one breath at a time. I'm a spoken word musical artist in deep apprenticeship to earth mama. I'm looking to co-create immersive experiences that bring together the natural world, music, poetry, justice and healing.
www.dramandakemp for more. ... more