The room filled with harmony and aromas of chili when the newly constructed Ferris State University Gospel Choir let it shine.
Since 1987, the Office of Multicultural Student Services has coordinated celebrations campus-wide to spread awareness of King’s messages. The genre of gospel was brought to Ferris’ campus for the first time in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
During his opening speech, President Bill Pink stated that Ferris would have a week of events honoring the holiday as he believes it deserves more than a “one and done” celebration. The choir performance was only one of the several events that celebrated the civil rights movement.
OMSS assistant director Byron Brooks spoke before the choir’s performance on the importance of music during the Civil Rights Movement.
“One cannot recognize the Civil Rights Movement without also recognizing gospel and music,” Brooks said in his opening speech.
Brooks stated that the freedom fighters and Black musical artists had helped fund King’s efforts. He explained that music was utilized as a communication to convey a deep message throughout decades of civil unrest.
“Music is a language that shatters barriers, gospel music was the soundtrack and the heart-pulse of the movement,” Brooks said.
Integrative studies senior Taylor Spidell is the founder and president of the FSU Gospel Choir. She is hopeful that the creation of a student choir will promote strength and community. As the first gospel choir on campus, she aims to create another space outside the norm for students. Being the daughter of a preacher, she naturally gravitated towards spiritual tones and used singing as a vessel.
“Bringing people out of their shells by promoting teamwork and togetherness through music will help participation and awareness in the community,” Spidell said. “Hearing songs, seeing personalities and singing words can help to bring down those social stereotypes.”
While Spidell claims she accidentally created the choir by request from Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion and Strategic Initiatives Dr. David Pilgrim, she’s still glad it occurred and is working towards making it a registered student organization.
Spidell approached Pilgrim and inquired about adding a gospel choir performance to Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations. When she was informed that plans to bring in a professional choir fell through, Spidell and her group members stepped up to the challenge and booked the FSU Gospel Choir.
According to Spidell, the sense of community in music is what has led her to perpetuate the choir into performing during the MLK celebration week.
Along with the choir performance, Pilgrim presented the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award to Spidell on behalf of OMSS. This award is given to those who show an advanced role in activism localized to the university.
Spidell was able to lead Tuesday’s MLK celebration with a newly formed cultural group, displaying her voice contributing towards King’s legacy. Pilgrim presented the award to Spidell because of her role in constructing the choir.
“We give this award to folks who exemplify some aspect of Dr. King,” Pilgrim said. “An individual who displays characteristics resembling King’s activism. [Spidell] definitely holds those qualities.”
Brooks thanked OMSS student workers and leaders who contributed to the celebrations this week, including student leaders such as Spidell. He’s looking forward to excelling inclusivity to bring everyone together and build on the MLK legacy. Similarly to Brooks, the expansion of the national holiday has Pink eager to see student involvement and interest in King’s legacy increase.
With the warm embrace of harmony, the event concluded with an encore of “This Little Light of Mine” led by Pilgrim, reinforced by the choir and echoed by the audience.