GCC to Present ‘The Sound of America: Negro Spirituals as Narratives of Freedom’

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College (GCC) will host a Black History Month event, “The Sound of America: Negro Spirituals as Narratives of Freedom,” on Friday, Feb. 20 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the GCC Dining Commons. The event is free and open to the public, with light refreshments provided.

The program features a performance and lecture by Perry Brisbon, an acclaimed operatic tenor and director of Turning Point, University Choir, and the Templeton Honors College Chorale at Eastern University. Through live performance and commentary, Brisbon will explore traditional Negro spirituals and their profound influence on American music, including blues, gospel, jazz, classic soul, rock and roll, and hip-hop.

Negro spirituals emerged from the lived experiences of enslaved African Americans and served as powerful expressions of faith, resistance, hope, and the pursuit of freedom. This event highlights their lasting cultural and musical legacy, tracing how these songs shaped the foundations of American music across generations.

The event is presented by GCC’s Office for Institutional Mission, Culture and Climate as part of the college’s Black History Month programming. Community members are encouraged to RSVP by visiting gccfor.me/sound-of-america.

Greenfield Community College is an AA/EO institution. For disability-related accommodations, call the Office of Disability & Accessibility Services at (413) 775-1812.