"Triumph of the Human Spirit"
Forging a Melody of Faith and Hope Out of Despair

In a glorious tribute to the African Diaspora, a new CD has been released which highlights the resilience of the human spirit through the legacy of the African slave trade.

"Triumph of the Human Spirit" takes the listener on a spiritual and historical journey in music, song, spoken-word, and prayer. It offers fresh and profound insights, while showcasing a talented musical ensemble that captivates the ear.

The CD, which comes with a companion journal, has significance for music lovers, historians, and spiritual seekers alike. It's a history lesson and church service rolled into one.

"Our prayer is that 'Triumph of the Human Spirit' heal and inspire all who hear it," said Perry Lang, the executive producer of the CD. "It's a project whose time has truly come."

The CD is a tapestry of music and message, rooted in the tradition of "Sweet Honey in the Rock" and "Sounds of Blackness." It is bridged and blended with authentic African drumming, sprinkled with words of wisdom and accented with prayers. It is now available on-line at www.triumphofthehumanspirit.com

Gospel Hymns and Traditional Spirituals

Musically, the CD is anchored with gospel hymns and traditional spirituals that are woven together with a contemporary feel. It features outstanding performances by a talented ensemble of San Francisco Bay area vocalists, including the heart wrenching melodies of Michelle Jordan, the strong baritone crooning of Lawrence Beamen, and the stirring vocals of BAOMI, who seems to musically channel the African ancestors.

There are 13 songs listed, including standards like "Amazing Grace" and "It is Well with My Soul." One old favorite, "Hush (somebody's calling my name)," has been modernized with a "Take Six" harmonic flare. The CD offers several new songs, such as "We Are the Answer" and "Blessed Always." There is one particularly haunting classic, "Lord How Come Me Here" by Jordan, that seems to stick to the skin when you consider the cruelty of the circumstances from which a people was asked to ascend.

"The songs chose themselves and ministered to each of us," said Jordan.

In addition to the vocalists, there is a refreshing young pianist, Jason Williams, and an accomplished composer and musician, Jacqueline B. Hairston, whose credentials are well established nationally and internationally.

History Lesson for Humankind

For students of history, the CD and companion journal offer a snap shot of the African slave trade from a global perspective, giving credence to the cultural contributions that uplift the spirit of humankind in the midst of oppression.

In the journal there is a two-page historical overview with information about tribal lineage and resistance movements, linking the struggles of African descendants across cultures, continents, and time. The journal also includes a list of spiritual and historical questions suitable for personal reflection or classroom use.

"Triumph of the Human Spirit" is aimed at tourists or pilgrims visiting the historic slave castles of West Africa, as well as others who are interested in the spiritual and historic evolution of the African Diaspora.

Keeping the Faith Across Religions and Denominations

For the faithful, "Triumph of the Human Spirit" is the great metaphysical sermon of the new century -- told through collective voices, but with a single heart. There is a message of hope and faith both for the descendants of the African Diaspora and the rest of the world.

Through a series of interviews with four interfaith spiritual leaders, "Triumph of the Human Spirit" preaches a gospel of transformation. It transcends most denominational and religious divisions, as each speaker puts forth spiritual principles for examination in the wake of the experience of slavery and oppression.

At the heart of the CD is an overlapping chorus of prayers offered by a group of Muslims and Christians. The prayers were recorded in a dungeon of the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, West Africa, and can be heard echoing from this subterranean holding cell where Africans suffered and died for three centuries.

One of the spiritual leaders who speak on the CD is the Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith, founding minister of the 7,000-member Agape International Spiritual Center outside Los Angeles. "There is something transcendent in us that cannot be destroyed," says Rev. Beckwith. "There's something within us, regardless of the external circumstances, that is unhurtable and unharmable, we call it the presence of God."

It was the realization and recognition of the presence of God that saved a displaced people from extinction.

In addition to Beckwith, others interviewed on the CD include: Rev. Dr. FranCione, Director of Education, Holmes (Ministerial) Institute, Los Angeles; Brother Ishmael Tetteh, founder of the Etherean Mission, Accra, Ghana; and Rev. Dr. Elouise Oliver, Senior Minister, East Bay Church of Religious Science, Oakland, California.

The CD also anchors itself in the wisdom of noted African American theologian Howard Thurman, whose mystical words echo throughout the project.

"The contradictions of life...the radical tension between good and evil, does not have the last word about the meaning of life and the nature of existence," wrote Thurman. "There is a Spirit in [humankind] and in the world working always against the thing that destroys and cuts down."

Thurman's words are read by executive producer Perry Lang, who is the Associate Minister of The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, which was co-founded by Thurman in 1944 as the first interfaith, interracial congregation in the country.

"Triumph of the Human Spirit" is a cooperative venture lead by Lang, who says the partnership is planning a national and international tour in 2002. The partnership is currently canvassing for tour sponsorship.

"I believe 'Triumph of the Human Spirit' has a relevant message for our time that transcends many of the barriers that divide us -- race, culture, and religion," said Lang. "It offers a message of individual and collective hope from an unlikely source in these uncertain times."

For more information, visit the website at www.triumphofthehumanspirit.com or write Triumph of the Human Spirit Partnership at PO Box 24281, San Francisco, CA 94124.