In December 1974, Reverend Jesse Jackson was invited as a guest speaker to Dillard. While waiting for Rev. Jackson to arrive, Dillard's gospel choir, The Voices of Liberation, performed for a packed crowd in Lawless Chapel. Click on the article below to read more.

VOL. 45, NO. 2; The Courtbouillon; DILLARD UNIVERSITY; NEW ORLEANS, LA.; DECEMBER 13, 1974; JESSE JACKSON SPEAKS AT D.U.
Rev. Jesse Jackson was a guest speaker at Dillard University through the efforts of Dillard's Dean of Students, Dr. Mack Spears and Dr. Barry Ivker of the University's Lyceum Series Com mittee. This committee arranges to have guest speakers brought to the University for the benefit of both students and faculty. No formal announcements were made concerning Rev. Jackson, but students and teachers passed the word. At about 10:30 p.m. people began to pour into Lawless Memorial Chapel and within half an hour the pews were full and the walls were cluttered. At 12:00 p.m. Dean Spears announced to the waiting crowd that Rev. Jackson would be late and asked that some 'in house' talent perform. The Voices of Liberation, Dillard's gospel choir, sung 'It Won't Be Long', accompanied by Andre Richards and Valda Slack. This was followed by an intermis- sion during which Richards played 'Can't Get Enough'. Then Dwight Franklin accompanied The Voices of Liberation as they sang 'Save Me Lord.' Hand-slapping, foot-patting emotion swept the chapel as Cheryl Feltus's voice resounded and Franklin. plunked at the gospel hymn 'I Found Jesus'. A standing ovation was wrenched from the audience as she sustained a high-pitched note. An invitation was extended to all gospel singers to come forward and participate. The call was answered by Valda Slack, Alfreda Thomas, and Francis Minor as a trio singing 'My Choice'. The entertainment continued with a solo, 'Walk Around Heaven All Day,'' by Roslyn Scott. Finally, the renowned Rev. Jesse Jackson entered the chapel to an enthusiastic standing audience escorted by Dr. Spears and followed by Pastor A. L. Davis of the ew Zion Baptist Church where the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was founded, Robert Tucker, executive assistant to Mayor Landrieu, and Dr. Barry Ivker, Professor of English at Dillard University. First, Dr. Ivker commended Dr. Spears for successfully ar- ranging Rev. Jackson's appear- ance at the university. Then Dr. Spears introduced Rev. Jackson as the well-known organizer of Ope- ration Breadbasket and PUSH. Rev. Jackson took the microphone thanking the administrators, stud- ents, and others who had contri- buted to his presence at Dillard. He apologized for his tardiness and stated that he was in New Orleans to receive an award from the Public Health Service. He continued with an explanation of the 'battle cry' - I AM SOMEBODY; then the audience enthusiastically joined him in repeating the words. Rev. Jackson summed his entire speech in his opening lines: 'The greatest challenge to Black people today is to accept the responsibility of leading the whole nation....one must consider himself capable....We all have the underlying assumption that someone else will else will do better than we....But we must not only protest against that which is inferior but assume that we are superior! He further stated that 'excellence is revolutionary'. Rev. Jackson gave as examples scientific facts and figures emphasizing the point that 'somebody needs to know these things'. Then he introduced his program of five 'E's' as listed below: 1. We must be ethnic. There is no need to apologize for Blackness. 2. We must be ethical. What does it matter if we have all the paraphernalia of Blackness and we are dishonest? 3. We have to be excellent. Excellence is revolutionary. What made Black colleges great was that Black students decided that getting beyond high school was the best way to survive. 4. Economics. We are afraid to deal with it. 5. The Eternal. We as a group of people need not forget our religion for it has brought us thus far...They (our forefathers) believed in you before they believed in themselves, for you represented the coming of heaven. The speech was followed by a question and answer period during which Rev. Jackson said that there is no one thing we can do for freedom but that a strong and developed mind is the key to freedom. As Rev. Jackson was leaving the chapel, students crowded around to shake his hand, to take photographs, and to speak to the one who said, 'We can rise above any circumstance.' By Brenda Osbey
Rev. Jesse Jackson

1976 Concert Choir

1976 Choir
Music On The Move By: Grayling Hawkins (Staff Writer) The Dillard University Concert Choir, under the direction of S. Carver Davenport, performed in Shreveport, Louisiana on September 27. The program was sponsored to promote and strengthen the Alumni Association in Shreveport. Mr. M. Neustater and Mrs. V. Oneil coordinated the audio- visual materials. Due to a minimum number of participants, the program did not begin as scheduled. Nevertheless, it began with introductions by Mrs. O'Neil and Mr. Neustater. Dr. Parikh and Mrs. Barbara Murray served as coordinators for the music and a slide show. After viewing an excellent presentation of Dillard and its campus, the Dillard University Concert Choir took to the stage voicing such compositions as 'Don't You Weep No More','Rockin Jerusalem' and 'Fair Dillard.' Snacks and cocktails were served afterward. With the combined effort and support of the Dillard Family, the University Concert Choir may be able to undertake similar engagements in their quest to spread the harmonious beauty of the song. The University Choir (photographed by Grayling Hawkins)
CONCERT CHOIR HONORS DR. FREDERICK D. HALL By Darilyn Williams (Staff Writer) The New Orleans Chapter of the Dillard University Alumni Association payed tribute to Dr. Frederick Douglass Hall, professor of music, emeritus, composer and historian-in-residence, with a concert in his honor on Sunday, November 14, at 8:00 p.m. in Lawless Memorial Chapel, featuring the 34-voice Dillard Concert Choir. Dr. hall received a B.A. from Morehouse College; Mus. B., Chicago Musical College; M.A. and Professional Diploma, and Ed.D., Teachers College, Columbia University, and LL.D, Rust College. He was studied at the Pittsburg Musical Institute; Royal College of Music; London University and the London School of Oriental Studies. He was a member of the original Dillard Faculty when the university opened for instruction in September, 1935, and was responsible for the organization and training of the Delta Rhythm Boys, the group who achieved fame nationally and abroad during the late thirties and forties. Dr. Hall composed and arranged many of the numbers that made the group famous. During the program, the former Dillard coordinator of music directed the Concert Choir when the group sung his composition 'Yonder Come Day'. Under the direction of Samuel Carver Davenport, assistant professor of music, the Dillard University Concert Choir continues to express their talents by spreading the harmonious words of the song. Some of the songs that were done by the Concert Choir included: 'Don't You Weep No More Mary', 'Precious Lord', 'Soon Ah Will Be Done', 'Sing and Rejoice', 'Benedictus', and a host of others. The concert was open to the public without charge, and a reception immediately followed. The Concert Choir extends thanks to all who made the concert possible.
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