MAJESTIC MAHALIA

It was early in April 1970 when Black Power was a raging fire in the country. The then Minister of Education, Mr Carlton Gomes, tried to explain the reasons for the demonstration to the goodly lady, her manager and bodyguards while the Permanent Secretary, Mr MP Alladin, the director of Culture and your humble servant were all in the VIP room of the Grand Stand in the Savannah. I was there to carry out the orders from the hierarchy in the Ministry.

How did I find myself in such illustrious company? The Ministry of Education would have me seconded from St James Government Secondary to the Division of Culture at the Royal Victoria Institute whenever the drama officer, Mrs Jean Sue Wing, was on leave.

The concert had started and Mahalia was in full flight when we heard the sound of distant drums and the shout of slogans becoming louder and louder. Someone was saying something on the microphone and hundreds were answering with thunderous voices "Power!" and clenched fists punching the air with ferocity.

Mrs Jackson’s manager would not listen to little me when I told him the demonstrators meant no harm but insisted that we stop the show and escort her to a safety zone.

The shouting reached its crescendo at the back of the stage with several trucks lined up. At that point, the Minister of Education told us to handle everything because the black power boys would be hostile towards him and he departed in his chauffeur driven car which was waiting for him.

Mrs Jackson sipped a drink as elegantly as a queen. The large audience waited patiently. The shouts stopped. Two demonstrators advanced towards the gate at the back of the stage. The policemen were on the alert as Mr Alladin and I went to meet them.

When the members asked if they could see Mrs Jackson we said her manager would not allow it. They wanted her to sing "We Shall Overcome." We told them we would ask her and we felt that the interruption of her concert was discourteous.

They apologised immediately and explained that the plan was to arrive before the show started but the crowds of people in the streets had hindered their progress.

Mrs Jackson listened attentively as we relayed their apology and request. Shortly after, escorted by her bodyguards, she made her appearance to spontaneous applause from the audience in the stand and the demonstrators in the trucks on the race course.

She put up her hands and the crowds became silent and she said, "Brothers and sisters, I have been asked to sing a song that I have sung so many times during the civil rights.... "We Shall Overcome". Loud applause again.

Mahalia overwhelmed us with a flood tide of emotion. She sang not only from her heart but from the depths of her very being. Her rendition was par excellence — a truly unforgettable soul-stirring performance.

When the song ended, the applause was ear-splitting and the Black Power demonstrators shouted their approval to the echoing hills.

Then they left in saintly silence and did not resume their shouting until they were completely out of the Savannah.

Gospel singing reminds me of this little anecdote. One Sunday, a preacher gave a powerful sermon on the evils of alcoholism and ended on a high note declaiming, "And if I had my way, I would empty every bottle of alcohol in the river!" Right away, the gospel singer came in, "Please join me in singing the hymn, ‘Shall We Gather By The River.’"