Born January 27, 1964 in Atlanta, Georgia,[3] Reagon grew up in Washington, D.C.[4] She was raised by musician parents active in the civil rights movement.[3][5][6] Her mother, Bernice Johnson Reagon, founded the all-woman a capella group Sweet Honey in the Rock in 1973, which had a profound influence on her.[6] Her father, Cordell Hull Reagon, was a leader of the civil rights movement in Albany (Georgia) and member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).[8] Her parents were also part of the civil rights musical group The Freedom Singers.[8][9]