Singing Preachers concert is a celebration of spirit

The announcement was made early during the Urban League’s Third Annual Singing Preachers Concert to dismiss any ambiguity on what was to occur Sunday afternoon.

“We won’t be singing today,” proclaimed Darron Story, the program master of ceremonies. “We will be sanging.”

And sanging is what the group of singers did during the annual event held at the Concord Fortress of Hope Church in south Kansas City.

“All you need is a piano and a voice and you can have church all day,” Story continued.

Clergy and others from different Kansas City churches performed during the annual event designed to celebrate the decades-old civil rights organization’s connection to the gospel tradition of the African-American church.

“Historically, Urban Leagues grew out of a spontaneous grassroots campaign for freedom and opportunity called the black migrations,” Gwen Grant, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said before Sunday’s event.

“Faced with the stress and strain of racism, discrimination, and Jim Crow segregation, African-Americans found their strength, endurance, courage, and hope in the teaching, preaching, and singing of God’s words,” Grant said.

On Sunday, the congregants swayed to the rhythm of the piano, clapped and raised their hands in praise to each performer, including the Rev. Wallace S. Hartsfield Sr., who belted out a soulful rendition of “I Won’t Complain.”

“He turned my midnights into day

So I’ll just say thank you Lord.”

Money raised during the concert supports the Urban League’s Project Ready: ACT Now! initiative, which was launched in 2009 and works to ensure that African-American students realize academic and career success. That effort combines academic tutoring ACT test preparation, leadership training, mentoring, college and career readiness and networking.

Nahshon Thomas, who attends Kansas City Kansas Community College, praised the Urban League for helping prepare him for college and with the opportunity to earn a scholarship.

“If you want be successful in life, you have to push yourself,” Thomas told the crowd on Sunday.

The annual Singing Preachers’ Concert was started several years ago by the former Urban League Guild as a fundraiser and to increase awareness of the local group’s work. It was revived two years ago by the Friends of the League and is held annually on a Sunday. The Kansas City branch will celebrate its 95th anniversary in 2015.

“It is our version of Urban League Sunday, which is held at least one Sunday annually in many Urban League affiliates across the country,” Grant said.

This story was originally published September 28, 2014 at 6:34 PM with the headline "Singing Preachers concert is a celebration of spirit."