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Should white people sing black spirituals? Western Michigan University is grappling with that question after a black student was triggered and suffered a social media meltdown when a predominantly white choir sang “Wade in the Water.” “So apparently Western Michigan University thinks it’s ok for WHITE peoples to sing negro spirituals while the instructor talking bout ‘these songs don’t belong to one race.’ They sure as hell DO,” WMU music major Shaylee Faught wrote on a social media now seen by more than 1 million people. Faught got triggered after the choir’s black conductor reportedly told the audience that the...

Where Will You Be When the First Trumpet Sounds? A Good Question from an Advent Hymn Msgr. Charles Pope • December 2, 2015 • Part of the genius of the African-American spirituals is their ability to treat serious themes such as the final judgment in a creatively compelling manner that steers a middle course between unproductive fear and prideful presumption. Some of them are even playful: "I would not be a sinner. I'll tell you the reason why. I'm afraid my Lord might call my name and I wouldn't be ready to die!" Another spiritual says, "Satan wears a hypocrite's...

Celebrating the Spirituals: Sober but Serene on Themes of Judgment By: Msgr. Charles PopeI’ve often been impressed at the ability of the old African-American spirituals to treat serious subjects in a clear, memorable, and almost joyful way. This is true even of very weighty matters like sin and judgment.  And while we are here in the opening weeks of Advent, quite focused on the Second Coming of Jesus to judge the world by fire, we do well to look at some of the creative lines from different spirituals that articulate this theme.It can be very helpful to the preacher, teacher,...

Part of the Genius of the African American Spirituals is their ability to treat of serious themes, such as the final judgment, in a creatively compelling manner that steered a middle course between unproductive fear and prideful presumption.

Friday, March 12, 2004 Author says start singing - and diversify the church By Valerie Christopher Enquirer contributor FINNEYTOWN - When it comes to diversifying the Catholic Church, America needs to start singing. Specifically, black spirituals. That's what Father Joseph Brown, a Jesuit author and head of the Black American Studies Program at Southern Illinois University, told an audience of about 85 people during a speech titled, "To Sit at the Welcome Table: Black Catholics and the Future of the Church," Tuesday night at St. Xavier High School. "If you want to diversify your community, hire yourself a black choir...