Ms. Judy Rchardson introduces Dr Bernice Johnson Reagon at the SNCC 50th Anniversary Conference

DR. BERNICE JOHNSON REAGON
Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, a multi-award-winning force and cultural voice for freedom. As a scholar, singer, composer, organizer and activist, Dr. Reagon spent over half a century speaking out against racism and systemic inequities in the U.S. and globally. Born in Dougherty County outside of Albany, Georgia on the 4th of October 1942, she was field secretary of SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) and a founding member of the original SNCC Freedom Singers, formed in 1962. In 1966, she was a founding member of the Atlanta-based Harambee Singers.
In 1973, while a graduate student of history at Howard University and vocal director of the D.C. Black Repertory Company, Dr. Reagon founded the internationally renowned African American women’s a cappella ensemble, Sweet Honey In The Rock, leading the group until her retirement in 2003. In 1974, Dr. Reagon began her leadership role at the Smithsonian Institution, which included curating the African Diaspora Program, creating the Program in Black American Culture, and producing and performing on numerous Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. For a decade, beginning in 1993, she served as Distinguished Professor in History at American University (AU) in Washington D.C. Dr. Reagon was named Professor Emerita of History at AU and Curator Emeritus at the Smithsonian. She is the author of numerous publications, compositions and recordings.
Dr. Reagon has received countless awards and honors for her pioneering work as a scholar and artist, including, the Heinz Award for the Arts and Humanities, the Leeway National Award for Women in the Arts, the Presidential Medal for contribution to public understanding of the Humanities, the MacArthur Foundation Genius Award and the Peabody award for the groundbreaking Wade in the Water series (NPR/Smithsonian Folkways).
Born to Reverend Jesse Johnson and Beatrice Wise Johnson, Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon’s family members include her life partner Adisa Douglas, children Toshi Reagon and Kwan Reagon, grandchild, Tashawn Nicole Reagon, numerous family members including siblings, Jordan Warren Johnson, Deloris Johnson Spears, Adetokunbo Tosu Tosasolim, Mamie Johnson Rush, several nieces and nephews, and extended family, J. Bob Alotta, Amy Horowitz, James and Miriam Early and a community of beloved collaborators and fellow artists.
INTRODUCTION BY JUDY RICHARDSON
Judy Richardson was on SNCC staff in Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama (1963-66). Her experiences in SNCC continue to ground both her film and education work. She is currently co-directing the new visitor center film for the National Park Service’s Frederick Douglass House in Washington, D.C.
In 1968, she was a co-founder of Drum & Spear Bookstore, once the country’s largest African American Bookstore. She was on the production team for all 14 hours of the seminal PBS series, Eyes on the Prize, as its series associate producer, then its education director, and then continued to produce documentaries for PBS, the History Channel, and museums. These include the NPS’ “Little Rock 9” visitor center videos, The Orangeburg Massacre 1968 (PBS) and Slave Catchers, Slave Resisters (History Channel).
She co-edited Hands on the Freedom Plow: Personal Accounts by Women in SNCC, a compilation of the testimonies of 53 SNCC women. She co-directed two NEH three-week teacher institutes, co-hosted by Duke University and focused on “Teaching Grassroots Movements”. She is a member of the SNCC Legacy Project board, the SNCCDigital website editorial board, was a Visiting Professor at Brown University, and has an honorary doctorate from Swarthmore College.