With the passion of a poet and the knowledge of a historian, Nikki Giovanni tells the story of Africans in America through the glorious words of spirituals.Ever since she was a little girl attending three different churches, poet Nikki Giovanni has loved the spirituals. 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.Back matter includes a glossary, a bibliography, source notes, recommended recordings, an index of song titles, and an index.