Black History Month
Ends On A Musical "High Note"

by: Bobby McDonald

With a number of Black History Month events planned throughout Hopkins County to celebrate the achievements of African American citizens, throughout February, the month long celebration ended on a mucical "high note" at East Caney Missionary Baptist Church, on Sunday, and with an outstanding musical presentation in the beautifully restored Hopkins County Courthouse, on Tuesday. Carolyn Malone Thomas, a member of East Caney Missionary Baptist Church served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for Tuesday's event, in Sulphur Springs, while Patricia Harrison Cooper, served in the same capacity at Sunday's East Caney service.

Cooper welcomed a large crowd to the East Caney Missionary Baptist Church, where an African American Historical Musical unfolded with each performer giving an account of the historical significance of their particular selection. Cooper stated, "The African/Edenic people's heritage is best described in Psalm 89:1, 'I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth I will make known thy faithfulness to all generations.'"

Sisters Mary Vaughn and JoAnn Blaylock, daughters of former East Caney residents, Bill and Mattie Mae
Washington Thompson, arrived early and stayed late for Sunday afternoon's East Caney Musical History presentation.

Cooper continued, "Universally, there is little or no doubt that the acient peoples of Africa and the descendents of them excel above all other nationalities or ethnic groups, with regard to natural rythmic motions, singing, and dancing. Rythmic artistry and its diversities seem to be birthrights among African American people. Music to the African is not contained to any special occasion, although there are special events when the tribes celebrate special spiritual festivals, incantations, and song; but, the indigenous spirituality of the African people, the soul of music, is everywhere, and can be heard and performed during the deeptest periods of oppression and during festivals of praise."

Rev. Milton and Lucy Phifer were participants in Sunday afternoon's Black History
Musical hosted by the East Caney Missionary Baptist Church.

"To the African, each day is a new song," emphasized Carolyn Thomas. "It is primarily for this reason that slaveholders in the Americas conjectured that the African slaves loved their consigned life of servitude, for there was always a time for singing, whether the songs were of praise or sorrow. Music holds special meaning for all African Americans and the African influence can be detected in all forms and types of music, throughout the world."

A joyful Pastor M. LaVelle Hendricks participates in Sunday afternoon's East Caney Musical, left, while
Monica Halsey, right arrives for her memorable rendition of "Soon I'll Be There."

 

Sunday's service included a moving and rythmic presentation by the East Caney Male Chorus, that featured Rev. Milton Phifer as lead singer, as he presented "Elijah Rock," with Rev.Cordell Jackson and Bernard Askew serving backup vocals. Then, Sister Pamela Clayton lent her deep, rich voice to her own rendition of "Precious Lord," and told of the song's orgin, as the composition of Thomas A. Dorsey, the son of a Black preacher.

Lead vocalist, Rev. Milton Phifer, "gets down" while singing "Elijah Rock," and Cordell Jackson and Bernard
Askew provide the backup vocals. They are members of the East Caney Male Chorus.

Sister Cassie Edwards told the story of Charles A. Tinley, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Black preacher, who began his service to the Lord, as a janitor and founded the East Calvary Church, that served over 3,000 souls, with home loans, soup kitchen, and a haven of rest in a troubled world. Then, she chronicled Tinley's life as she lent her voice to "Stand By Me."

Minister Delbert Williams presented a group of "Negro Spirituals" that reflected the deep impact of African Americans in Gospel Music. He sang a medley of "Wade In The Water," "By and By," "Steal Away," "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," and "Shine On Me."

New Orleans native, Emmanuel Morris, "brought the house down" with his "When The Saints Go Marching In," as he accompanied himself on the guitar and encouraged audience participation. Then, Thomas, presented her own version of the African American's influence in the Opera, and told the history of the 1859 New Orleans Opera House, "Crimila Crim," that featured the African American-Creole singers.

Members of the audience, "marched" to Morris' "When The Saints Go Marching In" as a climax to
Sunday afternoon's East Caney Historical Musical.

The Sunday program ended with talented singer, Monica Hasley, presenting Jackson's "Soon I'll Be There," as members of the audience were awestruck by her beautiful voice, as it reverberated through the air. Then, another verse from Morris, of "When The Saints Go Marching In," brought the entire audience to their feet, and out into the isles, as they marched to the spirited music, for a finale to the presentation.

Carolyn Malone Thomas served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for Tuesday's celebration in the
beautifully restored Hopkins Co. Courthouse.

Many of the same performers brought their presentations to the noon program at the Hopkins County Courthouse, second floor, District Coutroom, where the accoustics were outstanding, and audience participation was encouraged. Pastor M. LaVelle Hendricks called Tuesday's program to order and welcomed the Midday Christian Alliance, as special guests, then turned the program over to Carolyn Thomas, as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

People of all faiths, joined members of the East Caney Missionary Baptist Church for a Black History Month Historical
Musical, in the second floor District Courtroom, on Tuesday, as a climax of February is Black History Month Celebration.

Thomas introduced a group of fifth-grade students from Douglas Elementary School that gave a series of readings on the importance of Black History and chronicled many of the mass achievements African Americans have made in history.

Dorothy Jo Thomas, presented a presentation on "Why Black History" and the Hasley/Taylor Praise Dancers, performed an African American Praise Dance.

Fifth Grade Students from Douglas Elementary School presented a series of readings on the importance of Black History
and the many, many accomplishments of African Americans in our country's advancement, at Tuesday's celebration in
the historic Hopkins County Courthouse.

As those gathered were encouraged to lift their voices in song, and join the celebration, Emmanuel Morris, struck his guitar and "rocked" the entire courthouse with an ending rendition of "When The Saints Go Marching In," to lay the celebration "to rest," and climax the month long observance.

Minister of Music Delbert Williams "strikes the ivories" on the keyboard in the Hopkins County
District Courtroom, as he presents the second of two outstanding renditions of "The Negro Spiritual" and
its influence on Gospel Music.

Emmanuel Morris, cast a "warm glow" over the audience at East Caney on Sunday, and again in
the Historic Hopkins County Courthouse, in Sulphur Springs, with his superb presentation of a "spirited" "When The Saints
Go Marching In." Morris, a New Orleans native, "knows how to give each note an extra inch!"

"We should remember to celebrate Black History, every day of our lives," encouraged Thomas, as she thanked those who came and bade them to become involved in promoting even better understanding of all races in Hopkins County, Texas.

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