All God's Children: A Celebration of Black Church Music and the Lives of a people in far western NC Also known as “All God’s Children”, this book, CD and video project is a documentary of local African-American history and culture as shown through the Black Church and community. The forthcoming video, audio tapes, and book are not only a way to preserve our history and families, but they are also
tools to be used in our cultural diversity/anti-racism work and will be sold as part of the ODWC long-term earned income strategy. Project Goals
The goal of the project is to preserve--on film, on tape, and in writing--the traditional African-American style of singing and praising, while documenting the lives of the African-Americans who live in far western North Carolina. We will produce a film, CD and a book of photos, transcripts, and essays that document the "The Gathering" that was held in 1998 and the history and heritage of those who have lived, worshipped and worked in the region. Along with the primary goal to preserve African-American traditions, the project has two secondary goals: 1) to build self-esteem in African-American youth, and 2) to honor African-American elders.
