Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Should White People Sing Gospel, Slave Songs, Negro Spirituals?

Someone said to me recently that 99.9% of UUs like to sing black spirituals. Is this true?

You know how you are in a store or on an elevator and one of your all-time favorite songs comes over the loudspeaker only it's Muzak? The tempo is changed, the lyrics and voice are completely gone as it is made instrumental, it is performed mainly by strings, and all in all, so watered-down that it barely resembles the original. For some of us, it borders on offensive to take something wonderfully original and make it plastic.

I don't and I can't believe I am the only white UU that does not like to sing spirituals. Do white people have the right to sing these songs? Sure, we live in a free country. Should white people sing songs of slavery? Isn't this a little like a neo-Nazi choir singing Jewish hymns?

Can white people sing spirituals well? Open to opinion, I guess, but in my opinion, no, and this is the other compelling reason for white people not to sing them. I have heard many black Gospel choirs and several predominantly white choirs, and I have yet to hear white people sing African-American gospel music well.  I've never heard white people bring something fresh or original or interesting to the music. In my opinion, it sounds like bad imitation, inauthentic, watered-down, akin to Muzak if you will.

Please tell me there are more of us than 0.1%.


8 comments:

  1. As a black male there are some white choirs that sing Negro Spirituals pretty well.I'm listening to a choir now who is singing"Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" which is nothing short of beautiful.Now whether Whites singing songs that was born out of oppression is something altogether different,but you can't please everybody and even though in some cases it might open a can of worms it's a free country and some people may actually enjoy hearing other ethnic groups singing our old slave/spiritual songs.

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  2. Thanks for your comments and I'm glad to hear there is a white choir out there doing a beautiful job,

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  3. Coming from a background similar to Milton's, I am very much in agreement with his comment. Although we understand fully that although the songs were borne out of oppression, the message/content in the song is what I find to be very important and uplifting.

    Isn't it wonderful that there are other cultures/colours, who too appreciate and enjoy the beautiful spirituals!!

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  4. I am very much in favor of White groups singing African-American spirituals, or any other group for that matter. The spiritual is the first truly American song form, and is thus a part of all of our history.

    However, I make the caveat that great care should be taken to perform these pieces with utmost authenticity. I admit, I've heard dozens of White choirs and more than a couple of Black ones butcher spirituals. I think it should be pointed out that many African-Americans don't know the first thing about spirituals either - I was once one of them.

    I am faced now with a problem: I am working on my second degree (in music) at a predominantly White institution. The choir that I am required to sing with has on its docket a truly horrendous arrangement of a spiritual that I do not think I can sing in good conscience.

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    1. What did you decide to do? It sounds like you have a bigger problem with being offended by a bad arrangement than a race issue. I keep going back and forth on this. I enjoy singing the Canadian national anthem and I am not Canadian but then there isn't the history of oppression related to that.

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  5. I think that if a Christian song has mostly direct relation to you, then you should sing it no matter your race. I think that was what David was going for--that your singing be from and of the heart. 1. If it's a song like "Swing Low, Swing Chariot", then all Christians believe in the same God and that Jesus is coming to take you home one day. If you are saved(converted to Christ), then that song relates directly to you. Some songs are talking about what you hope your future to be: ex. YouTube "No Tears in Heaven" by the Jackson Southernaires. And almost anybody can sing those kinds of songs. Most black songs you'll find relate to people of a certain standing(either a negative or positive position they/singer might be in/referring to) or are general and universal. 2. Another thing to note is that singers that sing for audiences may be singing for the audience's edification or that the song is something that the people can relate to.

    Black singers/groups that I've heard and liked at least some of their work as far as "Christian" singing:
    Lee Williams and the Spiritual QCs("Personally": general song but almost referring directly to saved people; Some like "Can't Run, Can't Hide" better; "I Find No Fault"; "Be Alright", too)
    Jackson Southernaires("No Tears in Heaven"; "Power"; "Can't Make It By Myself"; "He Keeps on Blessing Me")
    Mississippi Mass Choir("Thank You Lord for my Mansion"; "It's Good to Know Jesus"; "Having You There"; "It Wasn't the Nails")
    Williams Brothers("I'm Just a Nobody"; "Cooling Water" sung with Lee Williams; "Pressing On"; "Mama Prayed for Me")
    Canton Spirituals("Rise Above It All" sung with Williams Brothers--I believe; "Fix it Jesus"; "I Recommend Jesus"; "He'll Send the Blessings")
    The Winans(classic group--be careful with some of the lyrics; "A Friend"; "This Time it's Personal"; "Free"; "Tomorrow")
    There's BeBe and CeCe Winans,
    Dorothy Norwood, Shirley Caesar, Mahalia Jackson, Mary Mary(very careful with lyrics), Kirk Franklin(again, be very careful), the Caravans, Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes("I'm Going Home with the Lord"), Willie Banks and the Messengers(God is Still in Charge) and there are so many other black artists; choirs; and groups out there to YouTube and check out their work.

    Anybody with any white, black, or any other English speaking music that they'd recommend?







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  6. Thanks for all the music recommendations. I know of some but certainly not all. Are you looking for religious music recommendations or gospel?

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  7. Those are some great songs and artists above. Let me add the duo of F C Barnes and Janice Brown(Rough Side of the Mountain). Yeah, any songs; artists; groups; etc. that anyone knows of that sing Christian music. I'm really not into gospel rap(will tolerate a little as long as the song is meaningful) and not any other gospel derivatives at all. Race and life background is not a factor; white; black; Hispanic; etc. as long as the song is English and there is potential to positively affect a Christian through praise; lifestyle; encouragement; worship; etc.

    I heard Patsy Cline--while sampling. She sounded great(I think one was "Peace in the Valley" and another one was "Just a Closer Walk with Thee") and the songs sounded very relevant from the samples. A person's race does not matter, but also their lifestyle background does not matter(as I believe the bible says to do as they say and not as they do--when referring to wicked people with good advice; a helpful thing would not be that far of a jump from advice). Yeah, but any Christian/gospel song/artist that doesn't stray strongly into worldly styles of music regardless of race; life background; etc.?

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