FRUIT OF LABOR SINGING ENSEMBLE

The Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble, the cultural arm of Black Workers for Justice, has been organizing in communities and workplaces for more than twenty years now. It’s been more than twenty years (20) of writing songs and creating music from many ethnic groups of people and co-workers’ struggles! More than 20 years of performing, inspiring, educating, and raising funds for the freedom and workers rights struggles in the South – in particular!

Our beloved freedom and class fighter, spiritual uncle and educator, Abner Berry, whom we affectionately called “Baba” was the vision for the Ensemble. He selflessly gave us his personal and political insight about the patience needed to organize cultural workers, the anticipated ups and downs, the need for study, discussion and assessment and persistence to stay with a vision. Peace and blessings be upon him.

Our songs are a chronology of popular people’s movements for social change….like “The Story of Shiloh”, which talks about fighting corporate toxic terrorism in an African American community while surrounded by the popular Research Triangle Park and “Organize, Organize, Organize” which reflects our effort to build solidarity in bringing more international union resources to organize the South. Also, “Never Again”, is an important song which documents the largest national tragedy since the 1940s. It is a song about the industrial fire that killed 25 workers in a poultry plant in rural Hamlet, North Carolina in 1991. “Election Blues” is a bluesy tune that highlights the hypocrisy of the United States 2000-04 elections.

Through various musical forms including gospel, reggae, rhythm and blues, jazz, protest, folk, work songs, chants and many others, Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble has carried on our peoples struggle and working class tradition, history culture and legacy.

The Ensemble’s latest recording (CD) of music, chants, and songs, “Weapons of Mass Construction”, speaks to the unfolding historical challenges of war, women’s oppression, youth and our peoples history of fighting oppression and racism. It also speaks to the need to continue workplace organizing to … “Unionize the South” and to build solidarity as a necessity — not an act of charity!

Angaza Sababu Laughinghouse
Founding Member
Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble