The Chase

Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: Entertainment

Robert Chambers performing for the gospel concert held on Feb. 2 by African American Affairs.

Performers prepare for the event.

New Light Church performing for to concert.

African-American Affairs sponsored a gospel concert on the Eastern campus at Ground Zero on Tuesday night, Feb. 2. Students, professors, and other personnel of Eastern participated in this event. The concert was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere-the performers had a lot of interaction with the audience. They were dancing, singing, and doing prayer and praise which they called "Alter call".

The audience thought highly of this event. "It is so full of joy! The singers really lifted my spirits," Rachel Whitt, a student of Eastern, said. She expressed her love for all the songs that played during the concert. Kathleen Wagner, the instructor of CET, enjoyed the praise dancer very much. "Very inspiring," said Wagner. "I have never seen that type of worship." According to her, there was true sense of joy and love-great spiritual pride in worship.

Gospel music plays an essential role in Black Culture. According to wisegeek.com, the term "gospel music" actually encompasses a number of subgenres, from the original spirituals to the most contemporary Christian "Praise and Worship" songs used in modern worship services.

Gospel music in general deals with religious (largely Christian) themes based on sacred texts and traditions. As with rock music, gospel music evolved from two separate but influential paths: Caucasian religious hymnody and African-American traditional spirituals. Today's subgenres of gospel music can all be placed along the path of intersection between those two musical philosophies.

Gospelcity.com also points out that "gospel music has given us strength. It has allowed us to be optimistic about a brighter day and future ahead. Gospel music has always had the ability to literally move the listener and touch the soul." Jordan Anderson, who was in charge of this event, showed his opinion on the significance of holding a gospel concert.

"Religion plays a huge role in the African American community. A lot of the African American families have a Christian base and religion plays an important role for the older African American generations," Anderson said. What is more, according to Whitt, this concert is a great way to cross cultures and gain new insights to different lifestyles. Henry Culley, another student of Eastern, gave his opinion on this concert that it was getting people together with love and passion. "(The gospel concert brought) cultural awareness and build community among African American students and community members," Wagner also added.

Gospel songs in the concert which were written by early African Americans were played by the church spirit singers and dancers from First Church Of God In Christ, Clovis, NM; New Light Baptist Church, Farwell, TX; Bethlehem Baptist Church, Clovis, NM; Pure Heart Word Church, Clovis, NM; Faith Family Christian Church, Clovis, NM., and some churches also came from Amarillo, Texas. After the gospel concert, Anderson showed his satisfaction for the result of this event.

"The result was great," Anderson said. "Celebrating a higher power is very important. There was a huge attendance and I'm very happy and proud of the student and faculty turnout."

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