 "Revelations" illustrates the history, traditions, faith, and beliefs of the African American culture while telling the story of African-American faith and tenacity from slavery to freedom through a suite of dances set to spirituals, gospels, and blues music.Being raised by a fervent Christian mother, this piece was inspired by his days spent celebrating Christianity with song and prayer at the tiny Mount Olive Baptist Church, along with the works of Langston Hughes and James Baldwin, two African American authors and social activists.Ailey intended for the dance to be the second part of his larger, evening-length survey of African-American music which had been begun in 1958 with his work "Blues Suite" though this was never fully realized.