Listen free for 30 days

1 credit a month, good for any title to download and keep.
The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
$14.95 a month plus applicable taxes after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
We Rise cover art

We Rise

Written by: Michelle Obama,Shirley Chisholm,Barbara Jordan,Fannie Lou Hamer,Rosa Parks,Mary McLeod Bethune,Condoleezza Rice
Narrated by: Michelle Obama,Shirley Chisholm,Barbara Jordan,Fannie Lou Hamer,Rosa Parks,Mary McLeod Bethune,Condoleezza Rice
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $8.73

Buy Now for $8.73

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

We Rise: Speeches by Inspirational Black Women is a rare compilation of memorable speeches delivered by celebrated African-American women from both the past and present. Spanning decades and elucidating the fight for equality, it not only captures important pieces of Black history, but reveals the struggle from a female perspective. The live recordings in this captivating collection are preceded by a short biography to introduce each speaker. Speeches include:

  • Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention (2008)
  • Shirley Chisholm on Equal Rights for Women (1969)
  • Barbara Jordan, “Who Will Speak for the Common Good?” (1976)
  • Fannie Lou Hamer at the Democratic National Convention (1964)
  • Rosa Parks at the Million Man March (1995)
©2010 Phoenix (P)2010 Phoenix

What listeners say about We Rise

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

No reviews are available
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Word Diva
  • Word Diva
  • 2010-02-11

A disappointment and a disservice

Production values mar what could have been an excellent educational keepsake. The female narrator who introduces the segments sounds like a bored student reading a paper which she was forced to do. The sample recording sounds much better than the combined work. This is an abridged recording but I can't find an original source to see what or who was left out. American Radio Works production is a better value.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for David
  • David
  • 2015-09-29

Fanny Lou Hamer alone is worth it

Perhaps it was my politics, by the speech by Condoleezza Rice was the least interesting. The speech by Fanny Lou Hamer is chilling. If you have never listened to her speech at the 1964 Democratic Convention, you simply must. It is one of the most difficult to listen to, because of the harrowing description of the torture she had to endure. I also recommend the speech by Barbara Jordan. She was one of the most eloquent of Congresswomen. It's too bad she was taken from us far too soon.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Elaine Sharon Davis
  • Elaine Sharon Davis
  • 2020-09-03

Sistas keep handing off the baton!

I loved the book! One because I could hear the speeches in the Sistas voice except for Sister Truth. These speeches go back in time, but they are right on time today. They are speaking of the struggle of unjust laws and a society built on oppression. As I listed to each speaker, I realized this is a relay. Each one ran her part in the relay, and she handed off the baton to another Sista. We each must run our part of the relay so our children and our children’s children will see justice for all.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Lady Cashmere
  • Lady Cashmere
  • 2017-11-05

Great speeches, horrible narration

I enjoyed hearing the powerful words of some of America's most powerful leaders but the narrator who gave the biographical components was just awful. I found myself questioning if it was a real person or a computer program. As a result, I skipped the biographies for all of the orators.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Dorothea Vencil
  • Dorothea Vencil
  • 2020-02-05

We Rise

Narrator mispronounced Mary McLeod Bethune's name all through her intro. It would be nice if you made sure they knew how to pronounce names prior to putting themout there for us to listen to. It may be a small thing but it is still annoying to hear.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Joyce
  • Joyce
  • 2017-11-01

Powerful, charismatic and awe inspiring

A great sense of respect and honor to hear these wonderful amazing voices bring their words life.



Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for PrincessSarah
  • PrincessSarah
  • 2020-11-02

We Rise ALWAYS

Love this. Ms. Obama & Ms Chisholm are the best parts, please take a listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jacqueline D Brodie Davis
  • Jacqueline D Brodie Davis
  • 2020-09-11

I will listen to Several More Times.

So Very Interesting. So Much complicated information shared, This Demands Several listeners to discuss how much We aren't aware of.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Yolanda G Richmond
  • Yolanda G Richmond
  • 2020-12-07

Loved This Audible

Listening to the actual speakers was uplifting as well as nostalgic! Thumbs up!! Thanks for doing this.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Shorti
  • Shorti
  • 2020-09-13

Inspiring

Loved the speeches from Michelle Obama and Shirley Chisholm. Other speeches the audio wasn't the best or were a little boring. I learned something from each one though! I didn't like the narrator voice in between the speeches! So annoying. Fannie Lou Hamer's was a bold speech as well!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful