Anne's Picks
Album: "Freedom Highway, opens a new window" by Rhiannon Giddens
Giddens' second studio album is named for and features a cover of The Staple Singers' 1965 civil rights protest song. "Freedom Highway" was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2017 Americana Music Honors & Awards.
Film: "Freedom Writers, opens a new window"
Hillary Swank stars as a teacher who tries to heal racial divides among her students by inspiring them to write. Based on a true story.
Adrienne's Picks
I get choked up every time I hear America the Beautiful, opens a new window by Ray Charles, opens a new window. A flawless, soulful rendition of the traditional patriotic song.
The stunning animated video for Bob Marley’s, opens a new window “Redemption Song”, opens a new window brings the reggae legend’s powerful message of hope and freedom alive with powerful imagery. A prophet, a poet, and forever a man of the people, his music and legacy are as inspiring now as ever. Stream/download more songs of freedom by Bob Marley, opens a new window, like “Rainbow Country”, opens a new window, on Freegal, opens a new window.
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Kay's Picks
This week I found a couple of lecture series that look at American history with an exploratory and questioning tone. The first was The Skeptic's Guide to American History, opens a new window, which is quite long, but each lecture is only about half an hour. The second is The Unfinished Nation series, opens a new window , which is even longer and goes even further back into the history of North America. Both are available on Kanopy, opens a new window. If you've got some free time, now is a great time to examine our country's history.
While I was exploring the history of the US, I ended up also wanting to learn about the history of music in the US, and found a lot of jug band music, opens a new window on Freegal, opens a new window.
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Jeff's Picks
Around the 4th of July I usually get a hankering to listen to some American music by some of our noted songwriters and composers. MediciTV, opens a new window has plenty of performances of works by music makers and creators from the USA.
I recommend Walt Disney Concert Hall Celebrates Gershwin featuring Herbie Hancock and Gustavo Dudamel, opens a new window, which includes An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue.
Leonard Bernstein is well represented with recordings of his work and also his groundbreaking TV series from the mid-1950s Leonard Bernstein Omnibus, opens a new window in glorious Black and White. I advise you to check out the American Musical Comedy episode, opens a new window.
Go to Freegal, opens a new window for downloading or streaming music. They usually have a featured holiday playlist and there is one for the Fourth of July, opens a new window which features American classics from all eras and genres of music. You can use the playlist as a jumping off place to explore Freegal’s deep archive. Listen to the soundtrack of Bernstein’s West Side Story, opens a new window, delve into the catalog of Woody Guthrie, opens a new window songs, and listen to the jazz of Louis Armstrong, opens a new window, Ella Fitzgerald, opens a new window or Duke Ellington, opens a new window.
Be sure to catch Bob Dylan, opens a new window or the Byrds, opens a new window doing Chimes of Freedom, opens a new window.
Freegal also has some downloadable videos- don’t miss Bruce Springsteen’s lyrically and musically evocative song 4th of July, Asbury Park, opens a new window which perfectly captures a certain time, place and emotional state.
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RL's Picks
Stop detentions and let freedom ring, opens a new window on Kanopy, opens a new window!
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Diane's Picks
As Independence Day approaches, I thought about movies that serve to remind us of our cherished freedoms as American citizens. Happy 4th!
THE CITIZEN, opens a new window
This movie, inspired by true events, reminded me that there is always more than one side to any story. People are not always who you think they are, we need to listen and look for truth. I first saw this movie at the Cinequest Film Festival, opens a new window and it was voted as an audience favorite that year!
ONE VOTE , opens a new window
The right to vote is an important place to express our voice as citizens. It is both a freedom and a responsibility. This is a small film about a BIG topic: American Democracy. Let freedom ring! Both films are available on Kanopy, opens a new window.
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Terye's Picks
Meaning of July 4th, opens a new window by Frederick Douglass
No more auction block for me , opens a new window– Paul Robeson
Aleut Story , opens a new window
In the turbulence of war, in a place where survival was just short of miraculous, the Aleuts of Alaska would redefine themselves -- and America. From indentured servitude and isolated internment camps, to Congress and the White House, this is the incredible story of the Aleuts' decades-long struggle for human and civil rights. Narrated by Martin Sheen and original music score by Composer Alan Koshiyama, the program draws compelling parallels to the present, as our country grapples with the challenging question of the balance between civil liberties and national security.
All from Alexander Street, opens a new window.
1776 , opens a new window
1776 is a delightful musical celebration of the founding of The United States of America. The story centers around the familiar historical characters as they organize a movement for independence from Mother England. All events lead up to that most significant date, July 4, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed. This is the DVD "restored" version which runs ca. 166 minutes -- longer than the theatrical release cut, yet shorter than the laserdisc "restored" version.
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Debra's Picks
This Land Is Your Land: Songs of Freedom, opens a new window includes well-known patriotic and uplifting songs by many performers, such as The Weavers, opens a new window, Odetta, opens a new window, Judy Collins, opens a new window, Bob Dylan, opens a new window, etc.
Fanfare For the Common Man, opens a new window: You've heard this piece. It's been used extensively in films and television. Although it is so patriotic to Americans, some feel it is the "official fanfare for all the common people of the world." You can hear this piece along with Lincoln portrait, Canticle of Freedom and others, performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, with readings by James Earl Jones, opens a new window on Portraits of Freedom, opens a new window.
Hear Nina Simone,, opens a new window Duke Ellington, opens a new window, Keb' Mo', opens a new window, Mahalia Jackson, opens a new window, Bruce Springsteen, opens a new window and others on Freedom: A History of US - Original Soundtrack Recording, opens a new window, available to stream on Freegal., opens a new window
The Freedom to Marry, opens a new window traces the marriage equality movement's historic progress in the effort to form a more perfect union.
Feeling Good, opens a new window by Nina Simone
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Tamara's Picks
A few of my favorite bands from my university years have also put together great albums for children, with a focus on peace, love, and freedom:
I Got Shoes, opens a new window by Sweet Honey in the Rock brings freedom and justice to all ages in their characteristic style of conversational, communal music.
Songs of Peace & Love: For Kids & Parents Around the World, opens a new window by Ladysmith Black Mambazo entreat us all to come together and help build a better world.
And, A Life of Song, opens a new window by Ella Jenkins celebrates the youthful experiences and influences of "The First Lady of the Children's Folk Song."
If you're interested in streaming or downloading music from Freegal, opens a new window, that site has more Ladysmith Black Mambazo, opens a new window, Ella Jenkins, opens a new window, and the soundtrack from the movie Freedom Song, opens a new window, composed and performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock.
The Alexander Street, opens a new window database also has more from Sweet Honey in the Rock, opens a new window and Ella Jenkins, including the album, We Are America's Children, opens a new window.
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Don's Picks
A precious freedom is the freedom of speech and how it enables art to flourish. I treasure how the work of our local poets honors that freedom both now, opens a new window and in the past, opens a new window.
One of my all time favorite sources of how the American system works is the Schoolhouse Rock video series, opens a new window. Check out not only how legislation passes but also nifty hints on addition and grammar, all delivered with catchy tunes., opens a new window
Movies & Music - Question of the Week
Marvin Gaye’s awesomely ‘80s performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” made the crowd go wild at this event in 1983.
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Super Bowl XVII0
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The World Series0
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The Summer Olympics0
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NBA All-Star Game0
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The Stanley Cup Finals0
Last week's trivia answer was: The Lost Boys
