Growing up as a low-income African-American kid in Philadelphia, Reggie Harris never dreamed that he would someday travel the country as a folk musician, educator, cultural ambassador, and civil rights advocate with a mission to heal the racial divide. As he shared his songs, stories, and experiences with audiences across the country, a common refrain was, “Reggie, you should write a book.” Well, now he has! With the help of author Linda Hansell, Reggie has written a memoir portraying his unique spiritual, emotional, and physical journey as a Black performer and champion for justice on the road for 42 years. Reggie shares powerful stories and anecdotes that are by turns humorous, eye-opening, and deeply moving on topics including:
- His journey from a choir kid to a national touring musician performing in concert halls, schools, colleges, and coffeehouses across the nation and the world
- His work in schools and colleges integrating the arts into the teaching of African American history and current events
- Dealing with pervasive racism and his struggle to accept his racial identity
- Discovering that he is descended from both slaves and slave owners and his developing relationships with his white-skinned Wickham cousins
- Hearing James Baldwin speak fueled his passion for fighting for justice and civil rights, including his work with the UU Living Legacy Project leading Civil Rights tours through the South
- His journey from death’s door to renewed health through the gift of a liver transplant