Community members join together in harmony through Gospel Open Mic Night
Guests sat in a dimly lit black room, the spotlights focused on center stage. Small chatter filled the warm room until the hosts stepped onstage. The crowd rose to applause.
Locals gathered on Thursday evening at the Community Folk Art Center for its Gospel Open Mic Night, one part of the center’s series called ‘A Journey through the Music of the African Diaspora.’ An introduction from the hosts kicked off the night.
Co-host Joan Hillsman, founder of the Hillsman Music Network, traced back the history of black music and explained how it derives from African music.
‘This music has a history, it just didn’t pop up. Now, it’s in places where it never was,’ Hillsman said, holding the microphone tightly in her wrinkled hands.
She told the history like a teacher would to students, explaining its origin and importance to the black community. The audience listened intently.
Throughout the event, Hillsman and co-host Tamar Smithers, the center’s creative arts director, sang selections of gospel songs in between acts. These songs involved both audience participation and some improvisation.
Songs like ‘Grateful’ by Hezekiah Walker and ‘Because of Who You Are’ by Martha Munizzi filled the evening. Smithers carried the songs with her strong voice, which had a delicate undertone, matching Hillman’s soft harmonic voice. The two traded song verses. The audience sang along at times, swaying their hands from side to side, and stood at many points to join one another in celebration of the event.
Two members of the spoken word group Underground Poetry Spot performed their poems.Seneca Wilson, the group’s founder and assistant director of operation at the Recreation Services at Syracuse University, performed two powerful pieces, titled ‘I am Lamp’ and ‘Romans 10:913.’
Wilson had the ability to rouse laughter and make performers feel comfortable on stage, encouraging the audience to help him along. His performances included snippets of gospel songs and offered insight into his personal life.
‘I love doing spoken word, but I love gospel spoken word more because I am doing it for God,’ Wilson said. ‘He gave me a gift, and I just want to thank him through spoken word.’
A student at Southside Academy Charter School, 8-year-old Anahja Delee, stole the show with her rendition of ‘God in Me’ by Mary Mary.
‘I sang it at my family reunion and did it again because I wanted my Aunt Tamara to see it,’ said Anabja when asked why she chose the song.
The little girl swayed from side to side, rapping some parts and gracefully singing others. The crowd clapped in unison, joined together by the young girl’s performance, which exemplified the aim of the event.
‘I learned a lot about God and how not to be discouraged,’ Anabja said. ‘You don’t have to worry about your skin color, it’s OK to be black.’
Published on January 20, 2012 at 12:00 pm
