The Fisk Jubilee singers were an a cappella group formed shortly after the civil war. They were organized as a fundraising effort with hopes of raising funds for Fisk University, a black school in Nashville Tennessee that was facing many financial difficulties. In 1871, this group of nine singers set forth on a tour that spread across Ohio to Washington D.C. and eventually accomplished their goal of saving the university from bankruptcy by giving them 40 thousand dollars from the 18 month tour. The Jubilee singers are also credited for the popularization of Negro spiritual tradition among whites and northerners in the late 19th century. Fisk University is still around today and has a building named Jubilee Hall dedicated to these singers. The University also commemorates the anniversary of the Jubilee singers first tour by celebrating Jubilee Day on October 6th each year.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Fisk University Jubilee Singers
The Fisk Jubilee singers were an a cappella group formed shortly after the civil war. They were organized as a fundraising effort with hopes of raising funds for Fisk University, a black school in Nashville Tennessee that was facing many financial difficulties. In 1871, this group of nine singers set forth on a tour that spread across Ohio to Washington D.C. and eventually accomplished their goal of saving the university from bankruptcy by giving them 40 thousand dollars from the 18 month tour. The Jubilee singers are also credited for the popularization of Negro spiritual tradition among whites and northerners in the late 19th century. Fisk University is still around today and has a building named Jubilee Hall dedicated to these singers. The University also commemorates the anniversary of the Jubilee singers first tour by celebrating Jubilee Day on October 6th each year.
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This entry reminds me of Booker T Washington's story in which he would risk every last cent in order to promote the Tuskegee Institute. It seems this jubilee singing group was formed by emptying its treasury completely in hopes of saving the university. The success story of Fisk University is very similar to the success story of the Tuskegee Institute.
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