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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1055 Introduced in House (IH)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1055

                   Honoring the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 2006

   Mr. Davis of Illinois (for himself, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Ms. 
 Millender-McDonald, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. 
 Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Jefferson, Ms. Norton, Mr. Hastings of Florida, 
Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Ford, Mr. Bishop of 
Georgia, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Snyder, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Payne, Mr. Cooper, 
Mr. Watt, Mr. Owens, Mr. Meek of Florida, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, 
 Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. 
 Cleaver, and Mr. Towns) submitted the following resolution; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
                   Honoring the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

Whereas the Fisk Jubilee Singers are a group of young, male and female vocal 
        artists who are students of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and 
        who sing and travel worldwide;
Whereas the Fisk Jubilee Singers are an a cappella ensemble that performs Negro 
        spirituals originally sung by slaves;
Whereas the first group of Fisk Jubilee Singers arranged the music and, 
        beginning in 1871, took their show on the road;
Whereas this group of unknown singers, all but two of whom were former slaves 
        and many of whom were still in their teens, arrived at Oberlin College 
        to perform before a national convention of ministers;
Whereas, after performing a few standard ballads, the Fisk Jubilee Singers sang 
        spirituals and other songs associated with slavery;
Whereas the performance was one of the first public performances of the secret 
        music that African-Americans sang in the fields and behind closed doors 
        for generations;
Whereas songs such as ``Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'' and ``Steal Away'' are part 
        of the traditional repertoire of the Fisk Jubilee Singers;
Whereas in combining the heritage of African culture and the experiences 
        encountered while in bondage, this early African-American music became a 
        unifying and driving force among slaves in the United States;
Whereas spirituals, as many of these songs came to be called, expressed faith in 
        God, helped to make work more bearable, and also revealed plans to 
        revolt;
Whereas the songs' lyrics offer a glimpse of the true horror of slavery, but 
        also reveal the hope and faith of the slaves, that one day they would be 
        free;
Whereas spirituals were the voice for generations of African-Americans and laid 
        the groundwork for the development of other forms of music in the United 
        States; and
Whereas each October 6, Fisk celebrates Jubilee Day to commemorate the original 
        Fisk Jubilee Singers, who sang before kings, queens, and heads of state; 
        who captured the hearts of all who heard their music; who introduced to 
        the world the beauty and tradition of the Negro spiritual; and who, with 
        steadfastness and commitment, practically financially rescued Fisk 
        University: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the Fisk Jubilee 
Singers.
                                 <all>
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