Dust + Dignity Podcast: Episode 15

The Drum Major Instinct

To celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday Dr. Campbell explores Dr. King’s “Drum Major Instinct” sermon he delivered on February 4, 1968 at Ebenezer Baptist Church. This sermon is an important lesson to understanding Dr. King’s theory of service. He wanted us all to work to create a more just, democratic society and how his thoughts continue to resonate in contemporary struggles. Many of which we still battle today.

As a reminder this episode is part of season 4 of the Dust + Dignity Podcast. A  special season entitled: Black Music’s Roots in Social Justice Advocacy.  Dr. Campbell was one of 5 awardees of  CASAA’s Inaugural Scholar-Advocate Program.  CASAA is the Center for Anti Racist Scholarship, Advocacy, and Action at Arcadia University.  This season will triangulate archival research, storytelling and strategies of Black music as a tool for change.

Featured Music:

Dotmatic – Dust + Dignity Theme

Kokoroko – Age of Ascent

Brian Jackson – All Talk (Instrumental)

Dotmatic – Blaxploits

Columbia Nights – Coming Home (Instrumental)

Rich Medina – The King’s Instinct

Footnotes

Branch, At Canaan’s Edge, 2006.

Hamilton, “Drum-Major Instincts,” in Ride the Wild Horses!, 1952.

King, “The Drum Major Instinct,” Sermon Delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, in A Knock at Midnight, ed. Carson and Holloran, 1998.