Rhiannon Giddens' banjo connects her to her ancestors: 'The spirits come through'

Musician Rhiannon Giddens, known as a "folkie to the bone," reveals that playing the banjo connects her to her ancestors. She feels the spirits come through when she plays the instrument, which she believes is the only thing that keeps her going in the music industry. Giddens specializes in music from the Black string band tradition, which has roots dating back to the era of slavery.

She played banjo on Beyoncé's hit "Texas Hold 'Em" and serves as the artistic director of the Silk Road Ensemble, an organization dedicated to collaborating with musicians worldwide. Her latest album, "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers," is inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem. For Giddens, the theme of hope is intimately linked to her ancestors, who endured extreme poverty in the American South. Despite her lack of faith in humanity, Giddens maintains a faith in humans.