Over the course of two weeks since his arrival Music & Education Director Tai Oney and I have had occasion to meet (and meet! and meet!) with a representative cross-section of individuals and groups who either support or collaborate with our Foundation in the quest to fulfill our mission.  Along the way we heard from persons of both sexes hailing from a wide array of religious traditions, ethnicities, political affiliations, races, socio-economic circles, life stages and disciplines of work.  A central point of reference quickly emerged from these encounters: that the Negro spiritual song we seek to preserve and celebrate is a cultural jewel loved by virtually every American who has heard the art form presented with feeling and with style.  

It is clear that, acting surreptitiously over time, the Negro spiritual has achieved what so many struggling artists and their overpriced agents can only dream of; it became a crossover hit of gigantic proportions, one capable of enticing a first time hearer and long time listeners alike to fall in love for keeps. Moreover, each of the persons we talked with had reason to lay claim to the Negro spiritual as a treasure that, by dint of our intermingled history and the tangled web of shared experiences we’ve endured living together on the same societal landscape, we all identify with somehow.   Time and time again we were made to understand that this music is deeply imprinted on the national psyche to such an extent that, despite the unique role African-Americans have played in originating and keeping the spiritual, it fairly resonates with all Americans, and in fact belongs in some peculiar way to all Americans.  

The realization that our Foundation only holds the Negro spiritual in common for everyone will be evident in the array of artists slated to perform in the sanctuary of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church located at 412 E. Kennedy Boulevard in Eatonville on Sunday 4th October for Suitable Airs XI, beginning at 7 o’clock in the evening.  Besides the range of musical elements to be enjoyed, our audience for this year’s annual benefit concert will have the added treat of seeing itself fully reflected in a talented cast of musicians pulled together from across the community  to showcase the Negro spiritual at its very best. Thanks to our presenting sponsor The Orlando Magic, the evening will be yours and ours – ALL of ours — and we welcome you to come experience what we hold in common!

In earnest,

Rudi Cleare