We Insist! Max Roach's - Freedom Now Suite: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

An LP vinyl record (2015.103.3a) and jacket (2015.103.3b) of the "We Insist-Freedom Now Suite" performed by jazz percussionist, drummer and composer Max Roach.

The LP vinyl record (2015.103.3a) has a black-and-white label, with white writing set against a black background. The type on the front of label reads: [So Far Out/ Side A/ OUT5001LP/ WE INSIST!/ MAX ROACH AND OSCAR BROWN, Jr.'s/ FREEDOM NOW SUITE/ DRIVA' MAN (5:10) FREEDOM DAY (6:02)/ TRIPTYCH: PRAYER. PROTEST, PEACE (7:58)]. The reverse side of the label reads: [So Far Out/ Side B/ OUT5001LP/ WE INSIST!/ MAX ROACH AND OSCAR BROWN, Jr.'s/ FREEDOM NOW SUITE/ ALL AFRICA (7:57)/ TEARS FOR JOHANNESBURG (9:36)].

The LP jacket (2015.103.3b) features a black-and-white photograph depicting three African American men sitting at a diner counter, with a white man in a white uniform standing behind the counter. The three African American men are looking over their shoulders towards the camera. A menu board can be seen in the top proper-right corner of the image. Black type on front of LP cover reads: [WE INSIST!/ MAX ROACH'S - FREEDOM NOW SUITE/ FEATURING ABBEY LINCOLN/ COLEMAN HAWKINS, OLATUNJI/ So Far Out/ OUT5001LP].

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1960; re-released 2013
• Composed by: Max Roach, American, 1924 - 2007
• Written by: Oscar Brown, American, 1926 - 2005
• Recorded by: Max Roach, American, 1924 - 2007
• Recorded by: Abbey Lincoln, American, 1930 - 2010
• Published by: MiruMir Music Publishing, Russian, founded 2004
• Type: record covers
• Type: long-playing records
• Medium: vinyl, cardboard
• Dimensions: Diameter (.a, album): 11 13/16 in. (30 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (.b, album jacket): 12 5/16 × 12 5/16 in. (31.3 × 31.3 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Civil Rights
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: U.S. History, 1953-1961
• Object number: 2015.103.3ab
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Estate of Max Roach
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.