Law School Concert Inspires Faith, Praise

With highly energized voices echoing off the ceiling painted with a bold mural, a 20-member ensemble performed “By Faith” in the Holy Cross Chapel at the Howard University School of Law.

The large audience, which filled every seat in the chapel, grooved to the varied collection of songs such as the performance by Memphis singer and songwriter Earnest Pugh.
“I think it’s absolutely amazing for [choir members] to take time out of our busy schedule for praise and worship,” said second-year law student Danielle Blancada.

Ensemble Director, Victoria Lynch said even with the “hectic schedules” and “enormous pressures” of being law students, the opportunity to release stress and minister to the self and to one another is part of the driving force that motivates ensemble members to take part in the unique experience.

The general consensus of the evening was that the concert, put on by the Howard University School of Law Gospel Choir, was a moving and emotional experience. First-year law student Kimberly Wilson was grateful for the concert. “It’s a beautiful experience to worship with classmates at school,” she said.

After discovering that she moved an audience member to tears while singing, second-year law student Bradis Ash said she was humbled. “When I’m singing, it’s really just the spirit,” she said. “While I gave that testimony in the beginning, I was thinking about the things we face as students and invited everyone to lift their hands in praise during the worship song.”
While in previous years the concert had been held during the law student lunch-hour, 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., but Lynch advocated for the time change this year.

“I tried to move it last year since the afternoon concert seemed ‘limiting’ in its convenience to the broader community,” Lynch said. “This year, the evening concert allowed us to reach more people.”

Concertgoer and University of Maryland graduate Jilliane George was able to attend the concert this year, whereas he was unable to previously. “I work full-time during the day, and

I have lots of classmates who work and attend class in the daytime as well. The concert was so inspirational and moving. Now, I will definitely invite classmates to worship and give thanks,” he said.

All and all, the jubilant sounds of the Howard University School of Law Gospel Choir offered a vitalizing worship experience to students, alumni and faculty alike.
 

1 comments

Howard University Watch

Fri Nov 20 2009 13:53

Could somebody please tell the good Black people of Washington,DC when was the last time the faculty and students from the Howard University School of Law (HUSL) used their legalese to defend those who need legal representation to offset: gentrification(Black people removal), police brutality, redlining, or the misappropriation of taxpayers monies. I'm most positive those hailing from the HUSL will say something along the lines of "we do provide services to the indigent." If so, it must be taking place in an incremental fashion because one can venture to the DC Court on any given day and see scores of Black people who need legal representation, or at least to explain what is taking place.

I think its ignomious for the HUSL to be merely matintaining the "status quo" not critically challenging the laws(local, state, and federal) in the manner in which they are being "carried out". Please do not say that "we" submitted an amicus brief for the more recognizable cases(i.e., Gruttner v. Bollinger [2003]) such as the affirmative action admissions policy of the University of Michigan Law School. This is akin to taking credit for something that you are supposed to do regardless.

Finally, all of the HUSL faculty and students(particularly the faculty) should be asking themselves, why is that when anyone from our collective Black community is in need of a finely tuned legal mind, the Black community does not immediate look to "US"(HUSL) as our defender. It's very simple, when you have cadre members(not all of course) whom are yearning to be inculcated into the White legal community, this negates the purpose of HUSL. As the former and illustrious HUSL Dean Charles Hamilton Houston, stated “A lawyer’s either a social engineer or a parasite on society.” Therefore, Dean Kurt L. Schmoke, you have alot of work to catch up on and extricate the apolitical and political correct mentality from the beloved HUSL in order for the Black people to view the HUSL as a beacon of hope.

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