THE WALK A Stroll to the Poll

Emana Rachelle narrates this child's-eye view of a walk (to the polls) with Granny. While acoustic guitar music plays, Rachelle cheerfully delivers a young Black girl's patter and questions as she tries to guess their destination. Granny's responses sound kind and playful. She cryptically tells the girl that they're gathering "treasured souls." Neighborhood noises add context to the stops they make. In the city, the music changes to jazz, and the procession ends at a school. The girl is surprised--it's not a school day, and these are grown-ups. She discovers that they've come to vote. "'Votin' is how grown folks speak up," she's told. Upbeat music and Rachelle's smiling voice convey a positive sense of purpose and community to the tradition of bringing "souls to the polls." L.T. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2023]