Session 3:
Causes & Conditions of Racecraft
Rhiannon Giddens - “At the Purchaser’s Option”
You can take my body
You can take my bones
You can take my blood
But not my soul
Day by day I work the line
Every minute overtime
Fingers nimble, fingers quick
My fingers bleed to make you rich
You can take my body
You can take my bones
You can take my blood
But not my soul
I've got a babe but shall I keep him?
'Twill come the day when I'll be weepin'
But how can I love him any less
This little babe upon my breast
You can take my body
You can take my bones
You can take my blood
But not my soul
I've got a body dark and strong
I was young but not for long
You took me to bed a little girl
Left me in a woman's world
Optional: More about Rhiannon Giddens, her work to recover the African
contribution to banjo music, the history of minstrel music, the invention
of race and the forgotten Wilmington massacre here.
Preparation
Materials
Read / Watch / Listen
Practices
& Prompts
Reflect / Ponder / Investigate
Session
Outline
Contemplating Together (Facilitator)