Sources

Below are some of the sources that monologues for the production were extracted from:

Lena Horne, interviewed in 1966 by Pacifica Radio’s Gene DeAlessi at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel. From the Pacifica Radio Archives

Nina Simone‘s interview for BBC’s Hard Talk

Nina Simone’s “Freedom” Interview

Remembering Singer Nina Simone interview with Ed Gordon

Billie Holiday “Strange Fruit”

Billie Holiday- American Masters (PBS)

Zora Neale Hurston “How It Feels to Be Colored Me”

Lucille Clifton reads her poem “won’t you celebrate with me.” Part of the Poetry Everywhere project airing on public television. Produced by David Grubin Productions and WGBH Boston, in association with the Poetry Foundation. Filmed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival.

THE POET AND THE POEM: An Interview with Lucille Clifton by Grace Cavalieri

Farai Chideyi interview with Lucille Clifton (NPR)

Lucille Clifton Poems Recited in Production:

“cream of wheat”

“wishes for my sons”

“the photograph”

“won’t you celebrate with me”

Lena Horne Songs Performed in Production:

“Now” written by Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Jule Styne

“Stormy Weather” written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler

Billie Holiday Song Performed in Production:

“Stormy Weather” written by Abel Meerpoel

Nina Simone Songs Performed in Production:

“Young, Gifted and Black” by Nina Simone with lyrics by Weldon Irvine

“Feeling Good” by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse

Zora Neale Hurston Essay  Performed in Production:

“How It Feels to Be Colored Me”