CONCERT: “Milestone Negro Spirituals Until The Civil War: When Folksongs bring Freedom”

Renowned bassist Hilliard Greene will perform an interactive concert that traces the role of spirituals and folk songs in the struggle for freedom from slavery. In the years leading up to the Civil War, the music of enslaved Americans preserved traditions brought from Africa, relieved boredom from tedious labor, and lightened spirits. Encoded spirituals also communicated important information for those escaping on the Underground Railroad. In this family-friendly concert, Hilliard will provide a lively narrative to explain the messages behind the familiar songs that have been passed down through generations, and will invite audience members of all ages to raise their voices as well! Ossie Davis Theater. Suggested donation: $2.00 for audience members 16 years and older.