“In spring of 2013, I asked various people I know if they would sing "John Brown's Body," a song that became popular during the American Civil War. (The song was also lyrically transformed in 1861 by abolitionist and John Brown sympathizer Julia Ward Howe into the still-famous "The Battle Hymn of the Republic.") There are several versions of the John Brown song and participants could choose which version they wanted to sing. I gave them little guidance except to ask that they video themselves if possible and sing as many verses as they could. What follows are their responses.” Laylah Ali