By BBG
2022 NABS APPALACHIAN STORYTELLERS
Storytelling is the heartbeat of Black Appalachian culture, embodying our history, identity, and resilience in a challenging world. The National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS) takes immense pride in honoring, celebrating, and supporting Black storytellers in the Appalachian counties of Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina through the prestigious Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowship.
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this legacy! Apply for the Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowship by August 20, 2023, to join the ranks of esteemed storytellers who bring our heritage to life. Click here to apply.
The inaugural class of 2022 featured a remarkable group of Tellers:
Raymond Christian from North Carolina.
Dr. Alicestyne Turley from Kentucky.
David Butcher from Ohio.
Sparky Rucker from Tennessee.
Crystal Good from West Virginia.
Ruby Daniels from West Virginia.
Their performances eloquently wove tales of history, heritage, and community, enriching our understanding of the Black Appalachian experience. Discover more about their inspiring stories here. At the close of their fellowship, the Fellows of 2022 were celebrated and honored with A Praise Song by Mama Linda Goss, one of the co-founders of the Black Storytellers Association, who herself hails from Appalachia.
PRAISE SONG FOR THE BLACK
APPALACHIAN STORYTELLING
FELLOWS. YOU MADE HISTORY.
YOU WERE THE FIRST BASF TO SHARE
YOUR FOLK ARTS AND FOLKWAYS
AT THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF
“IN THE TRADITION…” NATIONAL BLACK STORYTELLING FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE HELD IN BALTIMORE, MD.
NOVEMBER 9TH – 13TH, 2023.
ASANTE SANA TO MID ATLANTIC ARTS,
SOUTH ARTS, AND THE GRIOTS’ CIRCLE OF MD, AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK STORYTELLERS.
ASANTE SANA! ASE! ASE! ASE! ASE!
MY BELLS ARE RINGING!
MY SOUL IS SINGING!
RING A LING A LING A LING!
“WELL OH WELL, WELL!”
“IT’S STORYTELLING TIME!
ASANTE SANA! ASE! ASE! ASE! ASE!
MY BELLS ARE RINGING!
SPARKY RUCKER, TENNESSEE
RAYMOND CHRISTIAN, NORTH CAROLINA
DR. ALICESTYNE TURLEY, KENTUCKY
RUBY DANIELS, WEST VIRGINIA
CRYSTAL GOOD, WEST VIRGINIA
DAVID BUTCHER, OHIO
ASANTE SANA! ASE! ASE! ASE! ASE!
MY BELLS ARE RINGING!
WE WERE HOME.
YOU CAME HOME AND JOIN US.
I CRIED WHEN I FIRST SAW ALL OF YOU.
I COULDN’T HOLD BACK MY TEARS OF JOY. FOR I AM A PART OF YOU, A COUNTRY GIRL FROM THE FOOTHILLS OF TENNESSEE. FRIED CATFISH, GRITS,
AND STEWED APPLES. YOU ARE A PART OF US. TOGETHER I COULD FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE ANCESTORS.
MAMA EDNA RUFF, OUR OLDEST ELDER,
100 YEARS OLD WAS PRESENT AT THIS FESTIVAL SHE GAVE HER BLESSING.
ASANTE SANA! ASE! ASE! ASE! ASE!
MY BELLS ARE RINGING!
I SING YOUR PRAISES AS ONE WHOLE SWEET POTATO PIE, PEACH COBBLER PIE, AND A WILD BLACKBERRY PIE.
FRESH BLACKBERRIES PICKED ALONG
THE RAILROAD TRACKS. I PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER. YOU BROUGHT A MUCH NEEDED DIMENSION TO THE FESTIVAL. YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS BUT THE PEOPLE THERE AT OUR/YOUR FESTIVAL HEARD YOU, LISTENED TO YOU AND FELT YOUR STORIES.
ASANTE SANA! ASE! ASE! ASE! ASE!
MY BELLS ARE RINGING!
I SING YOUR PRAISES AS ONE SONG.
ALL THE STATES YOU COME FROM ARE JOINED TOGETHER BY THE HILLSIDES,
VALLEYS, AND COUNTRY ROADS. A LONG ANCIENT MOUNTAIN RANGE, A
PART OF IT IS OVER A BILLION YEARS OLD. THE ANCESTORS HAVE STORIES TO TELL. OH APPALACHIAN!
ASANTE SANA! ASE! ASE! ASE! ASE!
MY BELLS ARE RINGING!
THIS IS WHAT YOU TAUGHT ME.
BLENDING THE BLUES WITH BLUEGRASS. BILL MONROE MEETS ELIZABETH COTTEN. DE LAWD!
OUR ANCESTORS ARE ALIVE AS LONG AS WE REMEMBER THEM.
A PERSONAL NARRATIVE CAN BECOME AN EMPOWERING UNIVERSAL STORY.
STORYTELLING IS MEDICINE FOR THE SPIRIT AND HEALING FOR THE SOUL.
WE ALL GOT THE RIGHT TO BE BURY IN THE SOIL WHERE WE WERE BORN.
WE ARE LIVING MUSEUMS AND OUR STORIES, KEEPSAKES, HEIRLOOMS,
ARTIFACTS, PHOTOS, & GRAVESITES ARE MUSEUM PIECES WORTHY TO BE PRESERVED. WORTHY TO BE PRAISED!
CHILDREN OF APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS ARE UNEARTH TREASURES
MAY THEY RISE UP!
BLACK COAL MINERS WEARING RED HANDKERCHIEFS. I SEE YOU!
ROUTES OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. THERE WERE MANY.
ROADMAPS ON OUR HEARTS.
HERBAL PLANTS AND REMEDIES.
CIRCUIT PREACHERS & C C RIDER
BRER RABBIT IS ALIVE AND WELL.
HE’S HIDING OUT IN THE SMOKY
MOUNTAINS. I HEAR DADDY LAUGHING WAITING FOR MAMA TO FIX HIM A SLICE OF PEACH COBBLER PIE. I HEAR MAMA SINGING: “ALL HID, ALL HID!
5, 10, 15, 20, ALL HID, ALL HID!” WE WILL FOREVER BE GOING ‘ROUND DEM HILLS. WE MUST STAY CONNECTED.
I SING PRAISES AND PRAYERS TO THE BASF COMMITTEE: QUEEN NUR, PROJECT MANAGER, DR. CAROLIESE REED, ILENE EVANS, LYNETTE FORD, AND I AM HUMBLED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMITTEE. MAY WE SIT ALONG THE RIVER BANKS OF COLLECTIVE MEMORY, LEAN OUR BODIES AGAINST A DOGWOOD TREE AND SOAK OUR FEET IN THE WATERS OF THE ANCESTORS.
ASANTE SANA! ASANTE SANA! ASANTE SANA! ASANTE SANA!
ASANTE SANA! ASANTE SANA!
MY BELLS ARE RINGING! ASE! ASE!
LET THE SPIRITUAL.DRUMS PLAY!
ASANTE SANA! ASE! ASE! ASE! ASE!
MY BELLS ARE RINGING!
ASANTE SANA! ASE! ASE!
Praise Song by Mama Linda Goss, Co-founder Of the National Association of Black Storytellers July 29, 2023
