Legacy of a Civil Rights Melody

Bernice Johnson Reagon, an influential American civil rights activist, scholar, and musician, passed away at age 81. Known for her powerful alto voice, she used her music and activism to combat racism and systemic inequities. She was instrumental in forming pivotal groups like the Freedom Singers and Sweet Honey in the Rock.

Bernice Johnson Reagon, the renowned American civil rights activist known for her stirring alto and poignant lyrics, has passed away at the age of 81, her daughter confirmed on Wednesday. Dr. Reagon's career spanned over half a century, during which she utilized her multifaceted talents as a scholar, singer, composer, organizer, and activist to speak out against racism and systemic inequities both in the U.S. and globally.

No cause of death was reported. Born in 1942 in Dougherty County, Georgia, Reagon's activism began during her years at Albany State College, a historically Black institution. She was a member of the pioneering Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee Freedom Singers, formed in 1962 to support civil rights initiatives.

In 1973, Reagon founded Sweet Honey in the Rock, an a cappella group of African American women known for performances like 'Ella's Song,' which remains an anthem at modern demonstrations. Beyond her musical contributions, Reagon was a distinguished music scholar and served as professor emeritus of history at American University and curator emeritus at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

(With inputs from agencies.)