Episode 202: Excluded in the Name of Inclusion with Michal Dawson Connor
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- čas přidán 12. 06. 2024
- “I cannot believe I’ve been muzzled by my own people.” All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA cancelled a concert that was set for June 2nd, 2024 citing the “pain and anguish felt by 18 Black members of the church.” The response was that Michal and the choir, and the music they were set to perform from the African American cultural and musical heritage, was prohibited form being performed at the majority white All Saints until further notice.
I am joined this week by Bass soloist Michal Dawson Connor, who was caught in the middle of this controversy. He tells his side of this frustrating story and pulls no punches. A story that ends, for now, with the church’s “Racial Justice Advisory Board” being in control of what music is or is not allowed in the church, rather than the Music Ministry. When we in choral music preach diversity and inclusion, is this really what we mean?
This topic, in a broader sense, has been explored MANY times on this show going all the way back to some of the first episodes. Namely, what is the role of African American Spirituals and Gospel music in the telling of our American story, and in what ways can the cultural sharing through music lead to unity, healing and reconciliation? What does it mean to be diverse and inclusive? Can these things be achieved while drawing strict lines around categories, and gatekeeping? There seems to be a consensus in music education on these questions amongst scholars of the art form. Experts like André Thomas, Anthony Trecek King, Marques Garrett, Brandon Boyd, and even philosophers and race scholars like Anika Prather, Sheena Mason and Teodros Kiros just to name a small few have appeared on this show to speak on these important philosophical ideas. “Tough Conversations” play list linked above and embedded below.
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I think of all the Black History that I've learned from singing in the choirs over the years by singing spirituals, and this makes me so very sad. My brother and sister-in-law sing in the All Saints Choir. I'm praying for a way to turn this around so that the choir can sing spirituals again.
It is tragic, and there is no good excuse for this that has yet been presented to me.
Hi, I am an All Saints Church member. I have a lot of respect for Michal. I also thought the decision to cancel the concert was a bad one, for many of the reasons you both discussed.
I think that it's an oversimplification , however, to say our Rector is an attention-seeking activist first. He cares deeply about our faith and this congregation. He made a mistake, but in our faith we can seek to do the work together to be restorative in our approach. Instead of looking for the easy solutions, our faith looks beyond the dualism of two sides and instead, calls us to be open to God bringing newness via Holy Spirit.
I wonder about the motivations of those who brought this conflict into being but I do know at least one of them is sincere in their wanting this concert canceled. I don't agree with them but we had a loving conversation together anyway.
I am unhappy about what this has done to the choir, whom we should have trusted to be able to sing the spirituals. They have done the work literally and racially. Our congregation has been on a journey to do the work and should have also been trusted to host and experience this great music.
Somewhere in this we can grow as a community. Accountability (whatever that will be) will happen so that all of us, including Mike and Mark, can go forward to do the work of turning the human race into the human family.
I'm grateful this conversation you two have had. I hope it leads to more conversations and does not lead to a hardening of hearts.
We must model the way of Jesus in our relationships with each other. To do otherwise runs counter to what our faith stands for.
Thank you for sharing the experience. As I said on the show, I would be happy to hear the other side too if someone from the RAB at the church wants to come on.