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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 10, 1997)
• ' • - ; V . - •. •< •- V*'.. ^,-ST t- '' •'• ■ By Erin Gibson Senior Reporter Sacred gospel music chronicled the struggles of American blacks against whites and between factions of their own culture, a distinguished profes sor and musician said Sunday night. Bernice Johnson. Reagon, an American University history profes sor, author and professional musician, opened the third annual Abraham Lin coln Lecture Series in Kimball Hall accompanied by the Lincoln Commu nity Gospel Choir. Reagon traced the beginnings of the gospel movement, now visible in any American church that sings praises through a gospel choir. Although most Christian churches today use a gospel choir in joyous cel ebration, the roots of gospel were not always joyous, she said. In the beginning, blacks would “use the tradition at strategic times to help the people survive,” Reagon said. The gospel movement began when black Americans escaped slavery, she said, and later were emancipated and moved into the cities seeking greater freedom. “The fresh air of the South was stagnant, choking and binding,” she said. The gospel tradition soon woul<i help an uprooted four million blacks deal with a new city environment Where they often were not accepted— even by other blacks. The new urban blacks walked be tween Western rules and black culture, adding their own style to traditional black hymns. Innovative black songwriters brought gospel out of the church and into mainstream black culture, Reagon said. For instance, Philadelphii preacher Charles Albert Tenley copy righted gospel tunes, including “Stan< By Me” in 1902: The song late formed the base for Benny King’ popular,'secular tune by the same titli in the 1950s. Tenley also introduced “I Will Overcome Someday,” which later evolved into the song popular in the 1960s civil rights movement. Black gospel composers’ songs — A were not always accepted, she said. Not even the organ was accepted when it was first introduced. “Inside the culture there was a dia logue over what people needed,” she said. Songwriters after Tfenley struggled to introduce blues and jazz singing into the black gospel tradition, they met opposition, she said, even at tra ditional, all-black institutions, includ ing Howard University. The music resulting from these internal struggles continues to change and document the happenings in black culture today, Reagon said. Reagon will continue her walk * through the roots of the American - gospel tradition at 7:30 p.m. Monday 1 through Wednesday this week and r Thursday at 4 p.m. * Monday’s lecture will be held at " the Clyde Malone Community Cen ter, 2032 U St. Tuesday and Thursday Reagon will be back in Kimball Hall, and Wednesday she will travel to St. Paul Methodist Church, 1144 M St. All lectures are free and open to the public. r Is Life Overwhelming You?^ We Can Help! • Family Issues? • Feeling Down? • Trouble Sleeping? • Work Stress? Reat-UfoSo/utions for the Heartland Treatment for: Depression, Eating Disorders, Anxiety, MaritaJ Relationships, Women’s Issues, Emotional & Behavioral Problems in children, ADHD, Psychologi cal/Neuropsychological Evaluations, Anger Alternatives Program, Trauma/ Abuse & Other Issues *2596 off 1st visit with Student t.O. * Weekday, Evening, & Saturday Appts. ^6001 S. 58th • Suite E (At the Trade Center^ Cryptosporidium in Food and Water - Lifestyles of the Small and Furtive Sponsored By: Food Science & Technology ••• Dr. Dean Cliver Professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine Department of Population Health and Reproduction University of California - Davis • •• Monday, March 10,1997 4:00 pm 45 Food Industry Complex - ! ------ j. . ! ' -■ 3 Womens .Services PC. ■ Abortion Services Provided During All Legal Stages I • Awake or Asleep • Outpatient Care • Full-Time OB/GYN Physicians • Birth Control • Saturday AppointmentsAvailable • Total OB/GYN Healthcare INOMAHA* 564-0110 TOLL FREE • 1-800-922-8331 201 S. 46th St, Omaha, NE 68132 httpjgynpages.com/bmaha HI tfVWWVWWWVWWWWVWWWW !■ Tired of Chains? ■■ i $0# h X^j; 1 “ ristorante I1 i we offer Authentic Italian vT / jl g dining featuring Pasta, chicken, it Bi g veal a\*,d seafood. we also have I \ J \ "g g great Inexpensive lunches and a ~ l[ jf | Bi i large vegetarian selection, just f J Bi l ntlnutes front utNLcantpus In the ** l Historic H-aujntarteet district. v , If f "l ;_gog' street ■ _ 435-3gg^ !; Hey Stude omething for ^ from ® Macromedia ' I-■ I campus bookstore! tl m 4ACR0MEMT I .^jg| httP^^^w-macromedla.com | "The world is like a book, and those that never leave home read but one page" — St. Augustine —1 Peace Corps Is Coming To UNL! Information Table Film Short March 10-11 "Completely Alive" 9 am - 3 pm March 11th, 3pm Nebraska Union Room posted PEACE CORPS: The Rewards Are Endless! 800/424-8580 Ext: 130