Edited by Azizi Powell
This post provides information about the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools and showcases five videos of their version of Labi Siffre's 1984 song "Something Inside So Strong". Lyrics to the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools' version of "Something Inside So Strong" are also included in this post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/09/labi-siffre-something-inside-so-strong.html for a pancocojams post about Labi Siffre's song "Something Inside So Strong".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, motivational, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Labi Siffre for composing "Something Inside So Strong" and thanks to the Children's Defense Fund and all those involved in their Freedom Schools. his cultural legacy. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos, the publishers of these videos on YouTube, and the transcribers of the standard lyrics for this song.
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INFORMATION ABOUT CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND FREEDOM SCHOOLS
From http://www.childrensdefense.org/programs/freedomschools/
"The CDF Freedom Schools® program seeks to build strong, literate, and empowered children prepared to make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, nation and world today. By providing summer and after-school reading enrichment for children who might otherwise not have access to books, the CDF Freedom Schools program plays a much needed role in helping to curb summer learning loss and close achievement gaps – and is a key part of CDF’s work to ensure a level playing field for all children. In partnership with local congregations, schools, colleges and universities, community organizations, and secure juvenile justice facilities the CDF Freedom Schools program boosts student motivation to read, generates more positive attitudes toward learning, increases self-esteem and connects the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities. Since 1995, more than 135,000 preK-12 children have had a CDF Freedom Schools experience and more than 18,000 college students and recent graduates have been trained by CDF to deliver this empowering model. The CDF Freedom Schools model incorporates the totality of the Children's Defense Fund's mission by fostering environments that support children and young adults to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference"....
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Click http://www.childrensdefense.org/programs/freedomschools/ for information about the history of CDF freedom schools.
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From http://gracecdffreedomschools.webs.com/rootsoffreedomschools.htm Grace CDF Freedom Schools®
I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
"Roots of Freedom Schools
The Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® program is proudly rooted in the American Civil Rights Movement and the courageous efforts of college-age youth to make a difference. Reborn in 1993 by Mrs. Marian Wright Edelman and the Children's Defense Fund Black Community Crusade for Children (BCCC) initiative, today’s CDF Freedom Schools model draws on the vision, philosophy and experience of those who conducted Freedom Schools as part of the 1964 “Mississippi Freedom Summer Project.” Our emphasis on “servant leadership” as a model for a new generation of leaders for children is inspired by Ella Baker. In the spirit of Sankofa, we affirm our history as we move forward in sustaining, enhancing and expanding the CDF Freedom Schools program."
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SONG LYRICS NOTES
Note: The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom School version of "Something Inside So Strong" features accompanying motions (pantomime) and words added to the standard lyrics. There are slight differences in the motions/added words in the examples given below.
The standard words to this song are given below with the added CDF Freedom School motions & lyrics given in brackets. Most of these gestures and added words adhere to those that are performed in the video given as Example #1 below. Additions and corrections to my descriptions of the CDF Freedom School version are very welcome.
I've also included my ammendments to two of these motions/words as indicated by the asterisks (with the reasons for doing so indicated after the asterisks).
LYRICS: SOMETHING INSIDE SO STRONG
(written by Labi Siffre with motions & additional lyrics by Children's Defense Fund Freedom School trainers)
[Singers begin song squatting down]
The higher you build your barriers [move hands up and downs as if you are laying bricks on top of each other; add words: barriers]
The taller I become [singers slowly stand and raise their arms above your head; sing "come, come, come, come with the last iteration of "come" elongated]
The farther you take my rights away
[add words: away away away away]
The faster I will run [make a running fast motion in place]
You can deny me [cross both arms back and forth below your waist]
You can decide [touch both sides of your face (your mind)]
to turn your face away [stand in place and turn the top of your body from side to side while taking one hand and turn their face to the left and then to the right]
No matter, cos there's....
Something inside [sway back and forth to the beat, pointing to yourself with both hands] (point to your chest)]
so strong [continue swaying back and forth, hold your arms up with fist clenched in a body building pose]
I know [[touch both sides of your face (your mind)]
that I can make it [add words "I know I can make it! while making the black power salute (raising your right arm up above your head with your fist clenched)]
Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong [wave the palm of your hand in front of your face while shaking your head no(shaking your head side to side)]
You thought that my pride was gone [swing arms in front of your waist in the “you’re out movement” used in baseball” or put hands over your brow to mimic an "I'm ashamed" gesture]
Oh no [add the words “Oh no, oh oh oh"]
Something inside [sway back and forth to the beat, pointing to yourself with both hands] (point to your chest)]
so strong [continue swaying back and forth, hold your arms up with fist clenched in a body building pose]
Oh oh oh oh oh Something inside [sway back and forth to the beat, pointing to yourself with both hands] (point to your chest)]
so strong [continue swaying back and forth, hold your arms up with fist clenched in a body building pose]
[add a clapping sequence “clap clap clapclapclap” pause “clap clap clapclapclap”]
[continue swaying back and forth for the remainder of the song]
The more you refuse to hear my voice [cover your ears with your hands and then put hands to both sides of your mouth in a shouting motion and add the words “oh-way, oh-way oh- way, oh-way"]
The louder I will sing [move both arms like an orchestra or choir conductor cn orrth aake conductor ending with both arms held above your head; and add the words: I’ll sing, I’ll sing, I’ll sing, I’ll si –ing”; for another alternative read ** below]
You hide behind walls of Jericho [act like your are building a wall with each your hands,with the palm of your hands facing forward; put hands to both sides of your mouth in a shouting motion and add “oh-way, oh-way oh- way, oh-way]
Your lies will come tumbling down [slowly bend your body down and hit the floor two times while saying "down down down to the ground" or do a crouching dancing motion as though you are digging or pounding something down, add the words “down, down, down, down”]
Deny my place in time [stand up, look at wrist, as if looking at a watch]
You squander wealth that's mine [hold your hands slightly above your eyes and act like you're counting dollar bills]
My light will shine so brightly [spread your arms out in imitation of the sun shinning brightly]
It will blind you [cover your eyes, and loudly say “I can’t see!”]*
Cos there's......
Something inside [sway back and forth to the beat, pointing to yourself with both hands] (point to your chest)]
so strong [continue swaying back and forth, hold your arms up with fist clenched in a body building pose]
I know [[touch both sides of your face (your mind)]
that I can make it [act like you are pitching a ball far in front of you; shout “I know that I can make it!]
Tho' you're doing me wrong, so wrong [wave the palm of your hand in front of your face while shaking your head no(shaking your head side to side)}
You thought that my pride was gone [swing arms in front of your waist in the “you’re out movement” used in baseball”]
Oh no [add words “Oh no, oh oh oh]
Something inside [sway back and forth to the beat, pointing to yourself with both hands] (point to your chest)]
so strong [continue swaying back and forth, hold your arms up with fist clenched in a body building pose]
Brothers and sisters [point to people around you, jump and cross your legs (do this criss cross movement two times)
When they insist we're just not good enough [loudly sing the added words “Oh no!”, “Oh no!”, “Oh no!”]
Well we know better [add words “We know better!”]
Just look 'em in the eyes [hold two fingers in front of your eyes] and say [add words "Say what?", "Say what?"]
I'm gonna do it anyway [x4] [wave your right arm in the air with your fist clenched (in the Black power salute)]
Because...[sing the rest of the chorus and do accompanying motions as & add lyrics indicated above]
[Sing “ Brothers and sisters” verse and do motions and add words as given above]
Because...[sing the rest of the chorus and do accompanying motions as & add lyrics indicated above]
Source: [Standard Lyrics] http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/labisiffre/somethinginsidesostrong.html
Added words/accompanying motions "transcribed" from videos" by Azizi Powell; additions and corrections welcome
*My suggestion (given as a friendly ammendment) is to not say the words "I can't see" since saying that may be interpreted as being insensitive to and making fun of people who are blind (vision impaired).
**My suggestion (given as a friendly alternative) is to use ASL (American Sign Language) for the word "sing": hold your left arm near your waist with the palm of your hand facing your waist, move your right hand back and forth over your left arm in a waving motion.
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FEATURED VIDEOS
These examples are relatively randomly selected examples of YouTube videos of CDF Freedom Schools renditions of "Something Inside So Strong". Other examples can be found on YouTube.
These examples are given in chronological order according to their publishing dates on YouTube with the oldest dated example given first.
Example #1: Something Inside So Strong
TribeOne865's channel, Uploaded on Jul 13, 2010
Tribe One CDF Freedom Schools program participants singing the motivational song during Harambee!
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Example #2: Motivational Song (Something Inside So Strong) & Cheer and Chants
Garrett Edgerson, Uploaded on Aug 6, 2010
Class Color Day
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Example #3: Freedom School Harambee Time at The Grove
thegrovecharlotte's channel Published on May 3, 2012
Harambee--is the Swahili word for 'let's pull together' and the name of the morning gathering which is part worship service and part pep-rally. All the children join together with their leaders for cheers and chants, singing of the Hallelujah Chorus and the motivational song, a story and a prayer/moment of silence. Harambee creates community and gets the children ready for the important work of Freedom School.
Freedom School 2011 at The Grove
Charlotte, North Carolina
http://freedomschoolpartners.org/
http://freedomschoolpartners.org/
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Here's additional information about the Harambee portion of the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools:
"Harambee brings scholars, staff, parents and community members together to celebrate themselves and each other through the Motivational Song, Cheers and Chants, a Guest Reader, Recognitions, and a Moment of Silence. Harambee empowers our scholars and gets them ready for a fun, productive day of learning!"
https://www.razoo.com/story/Something-Inside-So-Strong-A-Celebration-Of-Children
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Example #4: 2013 Children's Defense Fund Ella Baker Training Institute - Harambee Motivational Song
CourtScrub, Published on Jun 4, 2013
Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute 2013 presents: Harambee, the Freedom School Way! A short clip from today's motivational song, "Something Inside So Strong." Check it out!!
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Example #5: Omega Freedom School- Something Inside is so Strong
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Principal Geddis, Published on Jul 10, 2014
Week 2 of Harambee Time
Inspirational Theme Song
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