Black History Week celebrated

Black History Week celebrated

Article, Black History Week, performance, guest speakers

Both article review two events held during Black History Week in February 1980.

Jessica Scarangella and Kathryn Staudenmeier

Quad Angles

West Chester University

February 12, 1980

Jacquelynne Conyers-Jordan

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Black History Week celebrated Arthur Langford presented "Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Portrait," last Thursday in conjunction with Black History Week. (Photo by Marc McCarron) Gospel inspires by JESSICA SCARANGELLA Staff Reporter "Gospel is definitely on the move". With those words, Master of Ceremonies Louise Williams of WDAS radio opened Gospel Music Fest '80 last Wednesday evening in Philips Auditorium. As part of the celebration of Black History Week, Jazz Farm presented the Gospel Music Fest, which featured four very talented and diverse vocal groups: The West Chester State Gospel Choir, the Wilmington Gospel Now Choir, Dawkins New Sound, and the Hummingbirds. The West Chester State Gospel Choir kicked off the evening with a joyful rendition of "Sign Me Up For The Christian Jubilee". The 50-member choir, under the direction of Marie Mobley and Vaughn Pryor, alternated the uplifting music with spiritual messages from Rev. James Christmas. Songs like "Jesus Christ Is The Way," "Draw Now Close To Me" (a thoughtful gospel ballad featuring soloist Gail Jones) and funky, clipped version of "Amazing Grace" showed off the talent and sheer energy of this dedicated campus choir. Next was the Rev. Thomas Brown and the Gospel Now Choir, a touring ensemble of the Now Gospel Arts Coalition of Wilmington, Delaware. Their set, which was casual and rather slowly paced, reflected their urban gospel sound. Interspersed between such numbers as "I Cried and Cried Until I Found The Lord," "Tiny Crumbs of Happiness," and "Kumbaya," was the preaching and testimonies of various group members. In contrast to the quiet mood of the Gospel Now Choir, Dawkins New Sound burst forth on stage, clapping and dancing to "I Wanna Be Ready When Jesus Comes," "I Just Want to See His Face" and the call-andresponse a capella "I Feel Good". Dawkins, whose voice and mannerisms resemble those of Andre Crouch was simply mesmerizing. His vibrant conducting inspired some of the most exciting sounds of the evening. When James Davis of the Dixie Hummingbirds took the stage, he told the audience that "when you look at the Birds, you are looking at Black History". Davis founded the original sextet in 1928, and today it is considered the "worlds greatest Gospel group." In 1973 they received national recognition as the background vocalists for Paul Simon's "Love Me Like A Rock", and five years later received a Grammy Award for their own version of the song. Now a five member a capella group, backed only by guitar, their sound ranged from barber-shop orchestral harmonizing to shouting, clowning and dancing about the stage. TTie music of the Hummingbirds and the other gospel group evidenced their strong and vital faith. As WCSC Gospel Choir member Gloria Douglas described it, "Gospel music is the word of God being portrayed in song. The most important aspect of the music is our belief in Jesus Christ." The Gospel Now , (Photo by Michael J. Mahogey) Shannon lectures by KATHY STAUDENMEIER Correspondent Last Tuesday the Black Student Union (BSU) presented a lecture on career planning and job search techniques as part of the Black History Week series. The guest speaker was Robert Shannon, Director of Employment and Economic Development for the Urban League in Philadelphia. Unemployment is destined to become worse, according to Shannon. The Carter Administration is prepared to risk higher unemployment to lower inflation. The first to get laid off will be blacks and white women. Already Philadelphia has the tightest job market in the U.S. The official unemployment rate in Philadelphia stands at 18%. Shannon believes it is closer to 30%. The entire northeast corner of the U.S. is in a decline since it is geared mostly to manufacturing. The job market is becoming more technically oriented. Seventy percent of the jobs Urban League handles are technical. Openings in accounting, computer programming, and engineering overshadow the more traditional teaching, social work, and liberal arts fields. Shannon also offered advice for interviews. He stressed the need to "know your company", dress neatly, ("it's not Soul Train you're interviewing for"), look the interviewer in the eye, be punctual and relax. Robert Shannon THE QUAD- - FEBRUARY 12,1980- 7