We Speak Your Names

In addition to being asked to attend Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball, Pearl Cleage was charged with writing a poem to commemorate the event and celebrate the accomplishments of the women in attendance. What resulted is this poem, which pays tribute to the contributions of the African-American women honored by Winfrey. Reading the work herself, Cleage first speaks the names of the women in attendance and reveals how they have impacted the world, as well as her own life. Cleage's reading of the poem itself is a bit stiff, but her introduction to the material is warm and engaging, and her description of the women she praises is genuine and heartfelt. Cleage's work succinctly, though subjectively, summarizes the achievements of a few notable women. H.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

October 15, 2006
This poem was written for a three-day celebration of African American sisterhood organized by Oprah Winfrey and was acknowledged as the high point of the weekend. Listening to Cleages soft yet firm voice on this tape, one can understand why. After a chant-like beginning, celebrating such attributes as freedom, wisdom, strength, and magic, she continues, We know that we are walking in footprints made deep by the confident strides of women who parted the air before them like the forces of nature that you are. Cleage then settles into a prosaic narrative, listing each of the 24 women shes giving thanks to (including Toni Morrison, Ruby Dee, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Lena Horne, and, yes, Oprah). Each biographical note is enhanced by personal reminiscences of seeing a play, hearing a song, reading a book, listening to the news. Is this great writing? Absolutely not. Its a crucial, uplifting, inspirational text that reaches far beyond the boundaries of race or gender; already a classic."Rochelle Ratner, formerly withSoho Weekly News", New York

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.