African American arts benefit
One hundred years ago today … The Brooklyn Y.M.C.A. was the site of a concert to benefit the Fort Valley High and Industrial School (Georgia), a school for Black students.
The main attraction was Henry T. “Harry” Burleigh, a groundbreaking Black classical composer and singer credited with introducing spirituals to mainstream classical audiences. Aomong the songs he sung that night was “Swng Low, Sweet Chariot.” Burleigh’s arrangement of the song made it part of the U.S. canon.
– Jonathan Goldman, January 19, 1921
TAGS: African American history, Black history, Black arts, Black music, concerts, classical music