“We Shake, We Shine” is the stand alone 3rd movement of Lifting As We Climb, a choral narrative 30 minutes in length commissioned by GALA Choruses to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution. Suffragists come to life and previously hidden voices of African American women fighting for the vote are heard. Lifting As We Climb looks back in time, but also explores the present day, anticipating a future that will require a diligent, informed public ready to fight for equality, democracy and the right to vote. The title, “We Shake We Shine” references two suffragists’ quotes:

“Any great change must expect opposition, because it shakes the very foundation of privilege.”  (Lucretia Mott ,1793-1880)

and 

“The way to right wrongs is to turn (shine) the light of truth upon them.”  (Ida B. Wells, 1862-1931)