I'VE LIVED IN WHITE SUBURBIA most of my life, and over the years I've had only a handful of friends who aren't white. I'd like that to change.
A few years ago I sang with a group that typically offers week-long festivals of classical choral music. This year they were offering a gospel week. I felt drawn to it but wondered how good it could be, because the other times I'd attended, almost everyone was white. I thought it would be artificial to have a primarily white chorus singing gospel music. But the conductor had a good reputation, so I decided to try it.
As it turned out, about a third of the group was African American. The festival had gotten the word out, and experienced gospels singers had come.
