Ever since she was a little girl attending three different churches, poet Nikki Giovanni has loved the spirituals. Now, with the passion of a poet and the knowledge of a historian, she paints compelling portraits of the lives of her ancestors through the words of songs such as "Go Down, Moses" and "Ain't Got Time to Die," celebrating a people who overcame enslavement and found a way to survive, to worship, and to build.

"Complete lyrics for the spirituals included."

Foreword: "Change is going to come" -- The journey -- Slavery -- The moan -- We will continue -- A slave's day -- Escape -- In the storm so long -- Sunday -- If you want religion -- Talking about heaven -- Climbing -- hope -- Jubilee -- Fire next time -- Anger -- After the Civil War -- The Fisk Jubilee Singers -- Spirituals today and tomorrow.