Fall 2019

“Yet, through all of
these atrocities, I
always had a song
in my spirit that
kept me waiting
and hopeful for
the time when, on
this side of heaven,
I would enjoy
the decency and
respect all of God’s
children deserve.”
the knowledge that retribution
was pointless and justice was not
anticipated. Yet, through all of
these atrocities, I always had a song
in my spirit that kept me waiting
and hopeful for the time when, on
this side of heaven, I would enjoy
the decency and respect all of
God’s children deserve.
In the midst of my development,
my family felt strongly about
taking steps to ensure our growth
and well-being. In the ’60s, my
family became the first in their
area to integrate their children
into public school (one other
family soon followed). I had the
opportunity to put into practice the
uncompromised word of God in my
own life.
As a middle school student, I
attended an all-white school where
daily atrocities were visited upon
me and my siblings. While these
were times of trials and tribulations
(a common colloquial expression in
our church), I further retreated into
music and found solace and hope
that would keep me grounded in
my faith.
It was through music that I first
began to see justice and equality
without consideration of my race.
“It was through music that
I first began to see justice
and equality without
consideration of my race.”
As a junior in high school and
longtime participant of the music
programs in these predominantly
white schools, I was chosen as
the student conductor of the
concert choir — the highest honor
you could receive in the music
department. It was there that my
passion for music and faith in God
came together to show me
God’s faithfulness.
From there I chose to attend a
predominantly white institution
(PWI, for short) for college and
was one of the first ten black
students to be enrolled at one
of the elite Christian colleges in
the nation. As a freshman, I was
chosen to lead a song in chapel for
the Cantata Choir. God continued
to use music as a conduit for my
well-being while also continuing to
break down old institutions that
sought to oppress and hold a race
of people hostage and captive to
hate and injustice.
I graduated in 4 years (yay!) but
before leaving, I was led to take
my music, as I knew it in the history
and culture of black worship, to
my PWI campus. In my junior year,
I started the first gospel choir on
campus (The Gospel Truth Singers)
and by that time, there were a few
more black students on campus.
Without hesitation, whether
they could sing or not, they all
joined with me in fellowship and
worship. It became the single
most important place for comfort,
support and hospitality for black
students at my college during
those years.
Of course, I continued for many
years in music ministry at several
churches in Mississippi and
eventually in Los Angeles and
San Francisco. Again at the
University of San Francisco, I
started the first gospel choir on the
campus and the exposure of that
group eventually led me to
San Diego!
There are many avenues where
we as a society long for and work
for justice, reconciliation, equality,
fairness and acceptance. For me,
that journey has always revolved
around music and for that, I am
greatly blessed.
Writer: Dr. Jeffrey Carr
Editor: Kayla Wong
Photographers: Bethany Endo
& Marcus Emerson
Designer: Jannah Maling
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