Stream BE NOLA's "The Souls of Black Folk" Playlist to be Uplifted in the Fight for Black Education
BY STEVONA ELEM-ROGERS
“Children learn more from what you are than that you teach.”
– W.E.B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk
We’re excited about gearing up to work alongside Black-led schools in New Orleans to better meet the needs of thought leaders and practitioners in our challenging, but beyond rewarding work of educating Black children. At BE NOLA we believe that Black people are beautiful, creative, and knowledgeable and that when we embody this as a community our children are blessed and highly favored.
In keeping with that energy, we curated The Souls of Black Folk playlist. Named after W.E.B. Du Bois’ classic written work, this is a musical soundtrack to affirm our Black excellence. This compilation of uplifting, Black-centric cuts includes the raw demo version of “Power to The People” by Curtis Mayfield, D’Angelo’s soul thumping “Betray My Heart”, otherworldly sensations from Sun Ra’s “Space Is The Place,” Solange’s vibrant harmonies on “Don’t Touch My Hair”, and the timeless tender sound of “As” by Stevie Wonder. Endless notable jams (including a few of New Orleans’ most beloved!) will have you smiling ear-to-ear as we gear up for a year of purposeful work.
Check out some of the special inspirations behind the The Souls of Black Folk playlist below, including a special snippet of one of our BE NOLA founders Dr. Howard Fuller from 1969. Proof that we aren’t new to this (Black liberation), we’re true to this!
Watch the “Malcolm X Liberation University Black Journal” segment hosted on the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
Read “A Talk to Teachers” by James Baldwin, 1963
