I Am - Somebody
Encyclopedia
"I Am – Somebody" is a poem written in the 1950s by Reverend William H. Borders, Sr., senior pastor at Wheat Street Baptist Church and civil rights activist in Atlanta, GA. It is recited often by Reverend Jesse Jackson
. According to The Reader's Companion to American History, the poem was used as part of PUSH-Excel
, a program designed to motivate black students.
He recited the free verse
poem on Sesame Street
in 1971, geared to fulfilling Sesame Street 's initial curriculum for serving under-privileged city children, as well as promoting cultural understanding. Yasmin Brown featured in this episode.
On Sesame Street, lines of "I am/Somebody" or "But I am/Somebody" were recited in a call and response
fashion by Jackson and the children. During the segment children of all races were scattered all over the Sesame Street set, on the street, benches, fire escapes, and led by Jackson in the poem. This performance is included on the 2006 DVD release Sesame Street: Old School 1969–1974.
I Am – Somebody was also recited by Jackson, with the assembled crowd at Los Angeles Coliseum for the Wattstax
concert in 1972.
Primal Scream
sampled the Wattstax concert speech heavily for the track "Come Together" on their critically acclaimed 1991 album Screamadelica
.
The poem was published as part of a 1998 book called I Am Somebody! (ISBN 0-516-26133-9), which included biographies of notable figures, for kids aged 9–12.
It also appears in When We Were Kings
, a 1996 documentary examining the historic Rumble in the Jungle boxing match between Muhammad Ali
and George Foreman
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which was still known as Zaire at that time). It was performed with band as part of a concert preceding the bout that was said to be the finest collection of African American entertainers ever assembled at that time (1974).
died in 1991, Saturday Night Live
paid tribute to the book Green Eggs and Ham
, by having Jackson appear on the "Weekend Update
" segment and recite it in the same oratative fashion he performs his own poem.
The poem was recited in a somewhat different form in what sounds like a speech by Jackson sampled on the 1973 funk single "Same Beat" by The J.B.'s
. The J.B.'s titled an album and track Damn Right I Am Somebody the following year.
The phrase has become so much of a calling card for Jackson that he yells it in a cameo in the movie Undercover Brother
.
"I Am – Somebody" also inspired a similarly titled song on Carlos Santana
's 2005 album, "All That I Am", which featured the American rapper will.i.am
of The Black Eyed Peas
.
"I Am Somebody" is a song by the hip-hop group Jurassic 5
on the album Power In Numbers
, which samples the poem numerous times.
A recording of I Am – Somebody is on the song "Can't Hold Us Back" on Paris Presents: Hard Truth Soldiers by Dead Prez
, Kam
, Paris
and Public Enemy.
"I am Somebody" is a song by French artist DJ Mehdi
and collaborators Chromeo
.
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
. According to The Reader's Companion to American History, the poem was used as part of PUSH-Excel
Rainbow/PUSH
Rainbow/PUSH is a non-profit organization formed as a merger of two non-profit organizations — Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition — founded by Jesse Jackson. The organizations pursue social justice, civil rights and political activism.In December 1971, Jackson resigned from...
, a program designed to motivate black students.
He recited the free verse
Free verse
Free verse is a form of poetry that refrains from consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern.Poets have explained that free verse, despite its freedom, is not free. Free Verse displays some elements of form...
poem on Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
in 1971, geared to fulfilling Sesame Street 's initial curriculum for serving under-privileged city children, as well as promoting cultural understanding. Yasmin Brown featured in this episode.
On Sesame Street, lines of "I am/Somebody" or "But I am/Somebody" were recited in a call and response
Call and response
Call and response is a form of "spontaneous verbal and non-verbal interaction between speaker and listener in which all of the statements are punctuated by expressions from the listener."...
fashion by Jackson and the children. During the segment children of all races were scattered all over the Sesame Street set, on the street, benches, fire escapes, and led by Jackson in the poem. This performance is included on the 2006 DVD release Sesame Street: Old School 1969–1974.
I Am – Somebody was also recited by Jackson, with the assembled crowd at Los Angeles Coliseum for the Wattstax
Wattstax
Wattstax is a 1973 documentary film by Mel Stuart that focused on the 1972 Wattstax music festival and the African American community of Watts in Los Angeles, California. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Documentary Film in 1974...
concert in 1972.
Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
sampled the Wattstax concert speech heavily for the track "Come Together" on their critically acclaimed 1991 album Screamadelica
Screamadelica
Screamadelica is the third studio album by the Scottish alternative rock group Primal Scream and was their first to be a commercial success. It was released on 23 September 1991 in the UK by Creation Records, and 8 October 1991 in North America by Sire Records. Screamadelica peaked at #8 on the UK...
.
The poem was published as part of a 1998 book called I Am Somebody! (ISBN 0-516-26133-9), which included biographies of notable figures, for kids aged 9–12.
It also appears in When We Were Kings
When We Were Kings
When We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary film directed by Leon Gast about the famous Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The fight was held in Zaire on October 30, 1974.The film features a number of celebrities, including James Brown, Jim...
, a 1996 documentary examining the historic Rumble in the Jungle boxing match between Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
and George Foreman
George Foreman
George Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which was still known as Zaire at that time). It was performed with band as part of a concert preceding the bout that was said to be the finest collection of African American entertainers ever assembled at that time (1974).
Cultural references
About a month after Dr. SeussDr. Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg and, in one case, Rosetta Stone....
died in 1991, Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
paid tribute to the book Green Eggs and Ham
Green Eggs and Ham
Green Eggs and Ham is a best-selling and critically acclaimed book by Dr. Seuss, first published on August 12, 1960. As of 2001, according to Publishers Weekly, it was the fourth-best-selling English-language children's book of all time....
, by having Jackson appear on the "Weekend Update
Weekend Update
Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast, and is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance...
" segment and recite it in the same oratative fashion he performs his own poem.
The poem was recited in a somewhat different form in what sounds like a speech by Jackson sampled on the 1973 funk single "Same Beat" by The J.B.'s
The J.B.'s
The J.B.'s were James Brown's band during the first half of the 1970s. On record the J.B.'s were sometimes billed under various alternate names such as The James Brown Soul Train, Maceo and the Macks, A.A.B.B., The First Family and The Last Word...
. The J.B.'s titled an album and track Damn Right I Am Somebody the following year.
The phrase has become so much of a calling card for Jackson that he yells it in a cameo in the movie Undercover Brother
Undercover Brother
Undercover Brother is a 2002 American comedy film starring Eddie Griffin and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The screenplay is by Michael McCullers and co-executive producer John Ridley, who created the original internet animation characters. It spoofs blaxploitation films of the 1970s as well as a...
.
"I Am – Somebody" also inspired a similarly titled song on Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
's 2005 album, "All That I Am", which featured the American rapper will.i.am
Will.i.am
William James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
of The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
.
"I Am Somebody" is a song by the hip-hop group Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5
Jurassic 5 was an American alternative hip hop group formed in 1993 from members of two previous groups, Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee by rappers Charles Stewart , Dante Givens , Courtenay Henderson , Marc Stuart , and disc jockeys Mark Potsic and Lucas Macfadden...
on the album Power In Numbers
Power in Numbers
Power in Numbers is the third studio album from the alternative hip-hop group Jurassic 5 .It picks up where their previous album, Quality Control left off, with a short double bass sample playing the same riff that the last song on Quality Control, "Swing Set", ended with.The album features a...
, which samples the poem numerous times.
A recording of I Am – Somebody is on the song "Can't Hold Us Back" on Paris Presents: Hard Truth Soldiers by Dead Prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
, Kam
Kam (rapper)
Kam is an American political emcee known primarily among hip hop fans and music critics during the 1990s. Born in Los Angeles, he is considered an esteemed West Coast underground rapper. He is known for his Nation of Islam-influenced lyrics and membership, and affiliation with his cousin, fellow...
, Paris
Paris (rapper)
Oscar Jackson, Jr. , better known by his stage name Paris is an American rapper from San Francisco, California, known for his highly charged political and socially conscious lyrics...
and Public Enemy.
"I am Somebody" is a song by French artist DJ Mehdi
DJ Mehdi
Mehdi Favéris-Essadi , better known by his stage name DJ Mehdi, was a French hip hop and electro producer of mixed French and Tunisian origin.-Biography:...
and collaborators Chromeo
Chromeo
Chromeo is an electrofunk duo formed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 2004.-History:Chromeo is composed of P-Thugg on keyboards, synthesizers, and talk box, and Dave 1 on guitar and lead vocals...
.