'God’s Trombones' celebrates Black history through poetry and song
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GREEN COVE SPRINGS – “God’s Trombones” is a powerful collection of poetry and negro spirituals deriving from the oratory traditions of African Americans during slavery. The …
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'God’s Trombones' celebrates Black history through poetry and song
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – “God’s Trombones” is a powerful collection of poetry and negro spirituals deriving from the oratory traditions of African Americans during slavery. The Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church performance was an inspiring, fitting start to the Black History Month events planned by Friends of Augusta Savage Arts and Community Center.
“God’s Trombones” was written in 1927 by James Weldon Johnson, a Black poet and civil rights activist born in Jacksonville. Johnson also wrote the lyrics for “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which became known as the Black National Anthem, and was the leader of the NAACP from 1920 to 1930.
On Sunday, Feb. 4, Friends of Augusta Savage proudly presented a “God’s Trombones” production directed by Dr. Barbara Bouie. It was the second annual “God’s Trombones” performance and the sixth annual musical presented by Friends of Augusta Savage.
“The first ‘God’s Trombones’ performance was last year by Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist church honoring Mrs. Ethel Lee Wright. I was there and thought it would be perfect to bring it back to the community,” said Henrietta Francis, Board Chair of Augusta Savage Arts and Community Center.
“God’s Trombones” was written in the context of African Americans in slavery, Dr. Bouie said. Singing negro spirituals was one vital way slaves were able to endure the hardships and injustices of slavery, and it is essential for the spirituals and stories to be heard today, she said.
“We can’t let the Negro spirituals die. They’re packed with meaning and messages which the masters didn’t understand. As the slaves were forced to do what the masters said, they sang themselves through the misery and trials.”
For those enduring under the yoke of slavery, the negro spiritual was sometimes all they had.
“God’s Trombones’ allows the modern generation to hear the spirituals of the slaves,” Bouie said. “It is important for the next generation to hear the negro spirituals.”
Friends of Augusta Savage will continue Black History Month with the Dunbar High Legacy Wall Hallway Reveal open house this Saturday, Feb. 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be at the Augusta Savage Museum and Mentoring Center, 1107 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
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