The Reconstruction Era was a very hard time for the African American population living in the United States after being freed by the emancipation proclamation. Many Amendments which were passed to help them turned out to make them even worse off. For example, the Thirteenth Amendment, which discontinued any form of slavery and involuntary servitude unless serving punishment for a crime, and also kicked start to the Reconstruction Era. Second was the Fourteenth Amendment in which any person born in the country could not have his/her privileges or immunities taken away and were to be guaranteed life, liberty, and property, and were not to be taken away without due process of law. Lastly the Fifteenth Amendment, which guaranteed every citizen, no matter race, the right to vote. These amendments, however, were written by much of congress with loopholes to continue to restrict African Americans the rights.
During this time however, many predominantly African American colleges were opened; Including Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, Spelman College and Morehouse University in Georgia, Howard University in Washington DC, and Fisk University in Tennessee. This is relevant because Fisk University in Tennessee founded a group named The Jubilee Singers of Fisk University. As you may imagine with all the racial hatred throughout the country, this group was extraordinarily hard to start and get popular; however, they took off with much of the racial stigmas set to the side by making music that was enjoyed throughout the world without the opinions based on race.
Fisk University, opened in Nashville in 1866, was a ground breaking institution because it was the first American university to offer a “liberal arts education to young men and women irrespective of color“ 1, with no segregation. This idea was unheard of at the time, and the university may have suffered because of it. After 5 years the university was underwater in financial debt; however George White the treasurer had a big plan of making this 9 member ensemble of African American students to tour the world and fund the college with their talents. “The first concerts were in small towns. Surprise, curiosity and some hostility were the early audience response to these young black singers who did not perform in the traditional ‘Minstrel fashion‘.” 1
As they kept performing, “Continued perseverance and beautiful voices began to change the attitudes among predominantly white audiences. Eventually skepticism was replaced by standing ovations and critical praise in reviews. Gradually they earned enough money to cover the expenses and send back to Fisk.”1 This in turn fixed Fisk’s financial troubles and made them a flourishing university.
This group went on to perform at major venues including the 1872 World Peace Festival in Boston. President Ulysses Grant likes the performance so much, he invited them to perform at the White House. They later, in 1873, added 2 members to make 11 and toured Europe, and with the funds constructed a still standing building recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1975.
This group is remarkable because it was a huge component to early American Music and a precursor to southern Jazz throughout the 1930’s. Also, they showed that through music, they could change racial opinions and tension by making music that everyone can enjoy.
An example of their music is shown below. While it was recorded in 1909, it gives you an idea of what type of music they made.
Sources Cited:
1. http://www.fiskjubileesingers.org/our_history.html
2. http://www.jazzistry.org/timeline.html
3. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/singers/sfeature/songs.html
4. http://www.youtube.com
