AUSTIN, Texas — A choir from an Austin university shared the stage with President Joe Biden in Monday's commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.
Huston-Tillotson University, Texas’ first historically Black college, said it was approached by the Civil Rights Act commemoration organizers to perform at the celebration. A small group of students and alumni accompanied Grammy award-winning singer Ruthie Foster on stage.
De’Juana Shaw, a vocal performance major and one of the singers, said she’s been singing since she was 3 but never thought she’d get an opportunity to perform at a presidential event.
“I was like, ‘Oh, OK. This is a big deal for us,’” she said with a laugh. “I didn't even know that the president was going to be there.”
Shaw said at her classes in concert choir, they perform many different genres – including R&B, jazz and classical styles – but her favorite is gospel. She said they sang about freedom on stage Monday evening.
“Just to know that we’re free, it’s a beautiful thing. As you can see, I am Black, so just to know that now we were able to do certain things that we couldn't do at a certain point in time. Yes, I'm grateful,” Shaw said.
Marcus Rhodes, the director of choral activity, said not only was this opportunity important to remember the civil rights movement, but it was also important for the school.
“I think the exposure that small schools often don't get, I think that it's important to highlight them in such events as this,” he said.
Rhodes said he works at HBCUs like Huston-Tillotson University to give back to communities that took care of him, but also to continue the education in institutions that serve underserved students.
“HBCUs are definitely an important part of the civil rights movement. I think they were all originated through the mission to allow equity in all communities, and so they're very important,” he said.
Rhodes said he's proud people get to see the excellence that happens at HBCUs. He said the event has motivated his concert choir for their performances this upcoming school year.