IV 

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; 

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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 AfricanAmericans 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; 

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and who, with steadfastness and commitment, practically 

financially rescued Fisk University: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors 

2 the Fisk Jubilee Singers. 

Æ 

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