Dear RRC Supporters,
These past few months have been filled with unprecedented challenges, unprecedented change but also unbelievable acts of kindness.
We saw our own community raise over $4500 for the Covid-19 Emergency Artist Relief Fund as we pivoted our fundraising efforts to help musicians whose livelihoods were upended in a matter of days.
Thank you. With the steady stream of support you've shown the RRC, our journey to bring THIS JOY to fruition continues. Over the next several weeks we will begin delivering the fundraiser rewards you've been so patiently awaiting as well as reaching out to contributors individually for those gifts requiring alternative arrangements.
These past few months we also saw the world rally to hold the US and other nations to task for the longstanding injustices inflicted on Black lives for far too long. In 1964, civil rights activist Ella Baker, spoke these words and they are still. relevant. today.
"Until the killing of Black men, Black mothers' sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother's son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest..."
These very words inspired the piece Ella's Song, written by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon and originally recorded by Sweet Honey In the Rock, a performance ensemble rooted in African American history and culture.
It is in their tradition we choose to honor this important song along with the many Black lives lost at the hands of police brutality. It is no mistake that Ella's Song is the first single off of THIS JOY. With the addition of the "We Who Believe Chant" by Toshi Reagon, this song stands as a beautiful sample of the collaborative music to come. Listen to Ella's Song and see our first video here. Visit our Instagram page here for more on the history of this powerful piece. All proceeds from Ella's Song will be donated to the Movement 4 Black Lives.
Thank you again for your belief in our message that "Joy is an act of resistance" - Toi Derricotte.
Although this campaign will be coming to a close on August 15, there will be more insights and updates to come. If you have questions, feel free to email us at resistancerevivalchorus@gmail.com with the subject CROWDFUND CONTRIBUTOR.
Keep resisting, keep fighting, keep loving.
-RRC