Faith, Race and Culture committee addresses chapel
Posted by The Skyliner on March 24th, 2010James Moore
Staff Writer
“Please stand for the black national anthem.” The words rang, loud and clear, throughout chapel on Feb. 24. The request was met with mixed emotions inside the place of worship. Some felt pride and some felt discomfort. For others, the request brought with it offense.
As the Faith, Race and Culture committee held another coffee house meeting on March 17, the topic of the Brother Sister Fellowship-led chapel was on the minds of the majority of the participants.
After the chapel service, there were BSF members who said they found their Facebook inbox full of messages and wall posts that said that they hated the performance. A veteran attended the meeting with the want to express that he felt the black national anthem was “almost like a slap in the face” to the National Anthem that he and his brothers fought for.
In contrast, Tony Beam, vice-president of student services, stated that he felt that it was an “expression of worship from the heart.”
By the conclusion of the meeting, it was clear that a whole lot of the animosity came from ignorance.
The correct title for the song is Lift Every Voice and Sing. In preparation to speak at an Abraham Lincoln Celebration, James Weldon Johnson sat down to write a speech but instead wrote a poem.
As time ran short, Weldon changed plans and asked the assistance of his brother J. Rosamand Johnson, a music teacher, to help him write a song. After completion, it became known as the black national anthem.
A consensus of the committee felt that a lot of confusion could have been avoided if the background and title of the song were given before the performance. Only after the information was provided did others gain a correct understanding of what was performed during the service.
Another interesting point that was brought up while discussing topics of concern was that of the “culture” of chapel.
Some chapel services held at North Greenville University are considered “white” services.
The discomfort that was met by some white students when the black national anthem was performed is met by some black students on a regular basis.
In order to alleviate this barrier between students, the Faith, Race and Culture committee, along with participants, is trying to develop ideas that will unify the school and erase this separation.
The committee is always open to advice, ideas and opinions.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 8
Sounds like an interesting chapel service. Good article, by the way. Good to hear from both students and faculty and good job exploring some of the deeper implications behind the song.