Join gospel singer and educator Mary D. Williams for a sonic journey of the music from the Civil Rights Movement, and come prepared to participate! A performer and historian, she is a leading voice and authority on the narrative of music and black southern culture. Recognized as one of the best gospel singers in the country, Ms. Williams believes the music of her ancestors still has the power to bring people together today, as it did during slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. Her performance offers a powerful message of faith, freedom, and celebration of the human spirit.Co-presented in association with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Smithsonian Year of Music.