The Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Choir performs hymns reflecting on faith, community, and Black American experience. The church choir performed in the the Schoenecker Center on Feb. 26, 2025. (The Crest/Evan Neubauer) 
Yohuru Williams introduces the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church choir. (The Crest/Evan Neubauer) 
Choir director Delphanie Daniels leads the choir in a Hymn. (The Crest/Evan Neubauer) 
Keyboardist Carlton Wells Jr. warms up with drummer Nahz Howard before the performance. (The Crest/ Evan Neubauer)
The University of St. Thomas hosted a performance by the Shiloh Gospel Baptist Choir and the University’s Racial Justice Initiative to perform a night of hymns and close out Black History Month through worship on Feb. 26 in the Schoenecker Center’s performance hall.
The event was hosted by Racial Justice Initiative Director Yohuru Williams and saw an audience of students, faculty and community members coming together to celebrate and learn about the importance of celebrating Black History Month, as well as the role hymns and worship play in the Black experience.
“Recognizing that as we talk about music, what sustained the slaves in the field? Music,” Willaims said. “What sustained the civil rights demonstrators? Music.”
Williams said that the main focus of not only the event, but also the entirety of Black History Month, should be on unity, equality and jubilee — making it important for all Americans to celebrate.
“For generations, the spirit of jubilee has been echoed through song, sermon and separation,” Williams said. “Celebrate this history. It carries away the history, but it should invoke in us this feeling of this far by faith.”
Williams went on to say that the 14th Amendment was not just for Black Americans; it was, and will be, for every American. He then connected this to St. Thomas with the idea that everyone belongs under Catholicism.
Junior pastor Steven Daniels, who led the Shiloh Baptist Gospel Choir, went on to explain that gospel and blues music are Black genres that were originally used as freedom songs to start rebellious communication. The choir then started the second hymn of the night, which Daniels said had lyrics that would be found in a freedom song but the swing and instrumentals of a jazz or blues song.
After that, the event was handed off to student ambassadors for the Racial Justice Initiative, junior Celeste Conteh and sophomore Nevaeh Madison — who said they share a passion for social and economic justice.
They went on to share two passages each to help further the spirit of jubilee and celebration, as well as the idea that faith is needed in order to help these messages spread. The speakers said that while the passages are historical, they also help show that despite how far history has come, many of the same struggles can still be seen today.
“Faith and perseverance in the face of injustice bring us closer to God’s promise of justice and peace,” Conteh said. “His words challenge us to act with courageously divine confidence.”
Willams gave the final remarks for the event, reiterating the importance of celebrating Black History Month for all Americans.
“When we celebrate African American history, the jubilee isn’t just ours,” Williams said. “The joy should be shared in community.”
Caroline Raleigh can be reached at rale6166@stthomas.edu.
