December 7, 1987
Features
Page 5
BSM Gospel Choir
Concert Tribute to
DeAudra Robinson
by SHEILA WILLIAMS
Business Manager
The Black Student Movement Gospel
Choir held its 17th Annual Fall Concert
on Sunday, November 8 in Great Hall.
The performance was a tribute to former
choir member DeAudra Robinson, who
was in a fatal car accident this summer.
BSM president Kenneth Perry
welcomed the audience of about 100 to the
evening s concert. BSM Gospel Choir
secretary Michele Martin followed with
a brief history of the choir.
Greg Bargeman gave a powertul in
troduction of the choir, suggesting to the
audience “clap your hands, sway from
side to side, stand up and move," it they
felt like doing so.
With Kent Brooks on piano, Ivan Ed
wards on bass guitar and Denietrice
Williams on percussion, the choir entered
dressed in blue cummerbunds and bow
ties. Sounding very strong and forceful,
they sang an original song entitled
"Praise Hint", by pianist Kent Brooks.
After this song there was no doubt in
anyone's mind that this choir had come
to sing, and sing they did. Patrick Johnson
and Stacie Blakeney, co-presidents of the
choir, thanked everyone for coming and
promised a good sht)w. This promise was
not broken.
Under the direction of two new
talented directresses, Robin R. Cox and
Sabrena Joyce Mervin, the choir lollow-
ed with ' ‘Jesus Lord oj All , also written
by the talented Kent Brooks. “Use Me as
Thy Servaiil" and ' 'God's Got It" got the
crowd to moving.
The tribute section of the program
was arranged by Kent Brooks and includ
ed very heartwarming and touching ren
ditions of' ‘Near the Cross'‘ ‘Suje in His
Anns”, and “I Shall Wear a Crown".
Following intermission, the choir
again reigned supreme with "Jesus
Yt)u ’ve Been So Good to Me " With My
Whole Heart'', ‘ ‘More Like Jesus'', and
'‘‘Never Shall Forget", to name a few.
The word "encore" was mentioned, but
unfortunately the audience was not
graced with one.
The concert was a huge success. The
new directresses gave an excellent perfor
mance — strong and meaningful. They
poured their all into it. Both telt that the
conceit went well considering all the hard
limes they had in the beginning. But they
worked hard and the outcome was suc
cess. Robin says she never enjoyed work
ing with anyone as much as Sabrena, and
with an attitude like that, you know they
are an unbeatable combination.
The audience also agreed that the
concert was a smashing success. As junior
Cedric Brown slated, “They worked it".
It was the best concert since my treshman
year."
Wanda Tucker fell that because many
students have difficulty going to church
on Sundays, it's good to hear something
inspirational like the choir singing. “It
gives us energy and the inner strength to
go on.“
Bravo to the BSM Gospel Choir, the
directresses, the musicians and the co
presidents for a job well done. The choir
should grace the UNC campus with more
outslandint’ performances like this one.
Merry Cftriitmai jrom your jikiuis at
Ciear Terms Communications
Protui Dcii^itcrs, Typeictteri aiti’ PniUcTi o
THE BLACK INK
situx 198b
834-8853
A Dmsim of
Lee Greene, (photo by Sherry Whitesides)
Facuity Profile:
Lee Greene
The Ivy Pledge Club Probate Show,
(photo by Sherry Whitesides)
by GERDA D. GALLOP
Staff Writer
Perhaps one of the most popular and
well-respected members of UNC's black
faculty is Dr. Lee Greene, Professor of
American Literature.
“He has this way of relating what we
learn in class to current topics and even
student life here al UNC,“ said junior
Gwen Hodges, a former student in
Greene's English 85 class.
Green was born in Rutherford Coun
ty near the lilorth Carolina fot)lhills,
where he grew up and graduated from
high school. He then went on to earn his
undergraduate, graduate and doctorate
degrees from the University ot North
Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Greene commented that student life
for blacks at UNC when he was an
undergraduate in the late 60's was entirely
different than it is for blacks students at
UNC now.
"Tl was fun despite the negative
things. There were 17 blacks in my
graduating class, and only about 30 to 40
total black students on campus. We had
a chapter of the NAACP and a chapter of
CORE that superceded the BSM", said
Greene.
Social functions like greek parties
were practically nt)n-exislent, said
Greene. Instead, black students interacted
in small groups and developed close and
lasting friendships since they numbered so
lew.
Interestingly, Greene feels that black
students didin't experience as much
hostility towards them from whites as
blacks do ni)w, because whites didn't see
them as a force.
■■Racism wasn't as blatant in the
1960's but things became hostile in the
1970's when blacks came in larger
numbers. Whites feared losing control and
domination", said Greene.
Black males were suspect of
everything, espcecially concerning in
cidents that involved white females. You
could be sitting in the library and campus
police would ask you to show identifica
tion or even attempt to prevent you from
entering a building, said Greene.
Chairperson of Affirmative Action and as
a member of the Housing Advisory Com
mittee, the Chancellor's Committee for
Scholarship and Financial Aid, and the
Afro-American Studies Advisory Com
mittee. In addition, Greene was formerly
an Assistant Dean in the School of Arts
and Sciences. Greene also belongs to
several professional organizations.
From 1973 to 1975, he taught English
and American Studies at the University of
Michigan and has given lectures “from
Murphy to Manteo". Among his
numerous recognitions and honors include
two teaching awards and three national
fellowships. Greene published a book.
Time's Unfading Garden which is the
story of a black poet of the early 1900's.
Green saw his admittance to UNC as
■ paving a way for those who are here to
be here and to make a positive difference
for the next generation". However he
feels that black students are facing a crisis
situation.
The difference between students now
is that we more carefully looked out for
our own welfare. Black studentis will have
to take a much more assertive role or
they'll see less students here.like there
were in the 70's."
Greene feels that black students have
become far too passive and particularly at
UNC, are not getting a realistic picture
of the world.
■■Students forget that history moves
in a cycle, and they'd better become much
more assertive about looking out for their
own welfare on their kids won't even be
able to come here."
He urges black students to become
active in the BSM and black student con
cerns and issues so that future black UNC
Tarheels can be given a fighting chance.
Currently, Greene serves
as
BLACK
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