The Civil Rights Movement was just the start, G. Phillip Shoultz, III, associate artistic director of VocalEssence said. The VocalEssence WITNESS Program continues the fight.
VocalEssence WITNESS: Eyes Still On the Prize, coming to Northrop Feb. 23, will present a roughly 90-minute choral concert of songs associated with the Civil Rights Movement. The concert tells the story of women involved with the Civil Rights Movement, including Ruby Bridges, Claudette Colvin, Mari Copeny, Reatha Clark King, Josie Johnson and Rose McGee, through song, narration and dance.
Shoultz chose to focus on women who are still alive and connected to the movement.
“The movement for civil rights was not just that decade,” Shoultz said. “That was the beginning in earnest of something still ongoing that we are all heirs to. It’s no mistake all six of them are still living.”
The Minneapolis-based choir organization challenges audiences to join their “lead with love” pledge. The pledge consists of 12 statements people should adopt into their lives moving forward.
“These six women lead their lives with love in the ways that they have served others,” Shoultz said. “That’s one way we can celebrate them.”
The concert is planned around five songs of the Civil Rights Era. Those songs are “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round,” “We Shall Not Be Moved,” “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize,” “Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind Stayed on Freedom)” and “We Shall Overcome.”
Shoultz said the songs have roots in spiritual hymns and gospels that have been used and changed.
In 2014, renditions of “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round” with updated lyrics to say “ain’t gonna let no Ferguson turn me ‘round” circled after a police officer murdered Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
Every other song is an audience sing-along.
“The act of singing these words together with the audience is giving people voice to things they might not have had the courage to say and hopefully gives them the conviction to act on their conscience,” Shoultz said.
Music being used to unify is not a new concept, Shoultz said. He has seen the power of messages spread through song, and a university campus is a great place to do this. Campuses tend to be spaces where we engage in transformational conversations, Shoultz said.
“Events like this just remind us we are stronger together, and that we can come together across ideological differences,” Shoultz said.
There will be posters at the event with QR codes to scan and learn more. The concert is from 4-6:30 p.m.
