[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-599561-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":80,"doc-detail-599561-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":73,"head_meta":75,"extra_data":77,"updated_unix":79},105,"en","afro-american-gospel-choir-history-assessment","Afro-American Gospel Choir - History - Assessment","","The article explains how an Afro-American gospel choir at the University of Alabama supports African American students at predominantly White higher-education institutions by fostering comfort, encouragement, and a more positive campus climate. It reviews evidence that religiosity among African Americans is linked to feelings of belonging, coherence, self-esteem, and health. It then outlines the choir’s origins in 1971, its inclusive membership, and its ongoing campus presence, concluding with an interview-based assessment of participants’ motivations and perceived gains.",{"@graph":14,"@context":72},[15,34,55],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/religion-spirituality/","Religion & Spirituality",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/afro-american-gospel-choir-history-assessment/599561/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/afro-american-gospel-choir-history-assessment/599561.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"jayni","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-10-15",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":30},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",{"@type":56,"mainEntity":57},"FAQPage",[58,64,68],{"name":59,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":61},"Why does the article emphasize religion for African American students at predominantly White institutions?","Question",{"text":62,"@type":63},"It argues that religion offers comfort and encouragement and helps create social networks that support belonging, control, coherence, health, and self-esteem.","Answer",{"name":65,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":66},"How was the Afro-American Gospel Choir at the University of Alabama founded?",{"text":67,"@type":63},"In 1971, 12 African American students began by entering a talent show, and in the following fall additional students joined to form the choir.",{"name":69,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":70},"How did the study assess the choir’s influence on students?",{"text":71,"@type":63},"The authors conducted in-depth interviews with 15 former members, aiming to understand motivations, personal gains, and perceived benefits for African American students and the campus 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Students  \nMyron L.Pope,Cynthia Moore*  \nFor African American students,matriculation at a predominantly Whiteinstitution of higher education can be quite intimidating.Religion is importantin providing comfort and encouragement for many of these students.This articledescribes the Afro-American gospel choir at the University of Alabama and its rolein providing a more positive campus climate for African American students  \nReligion has consistently been shown to play a significant role in the daily livesof African Americans.Based on a variety of data from the National Survey ofBlack Americans,African Americans,compared to the general population,attend religious services more frequently;have higher rates of churchmembership;are more likely to perceive themselves as religious;andparticipate more extensively in private religious activities,such as prayer,reading religious material,and viewing religious programs(Taylor,1986;1988a;1988b;Taylor &Chatters,1991).Lincoln and Mamiya(1990)suggest that thesehigher levels of religious behavior result from the unique social,political,andhistorical experiences of this population within American society.Consequently,religion has served as a source of comfort and encouragementduring tumultuous periods for the race.These levels of religiosity for AfricanAmericans also create unique social networks in which church attendance,church membership,and religious affiliation are conducive to feelings ofcoherence,control of one's life,a sense of belonging,physical health,and self-esteem(Chatters,Levin,&Ellison,1998;Ellison,1991,1993,1998;Levin,1994).  \nResearch has demonstrated that both nonacademic(Allen,1988;Hughes,1987;Oliver,Smith,&Wilson,1989)and academic(Pascarella,1980;Pascarella &Terenzini,1991;Sedlacek,1987;Tinto,1987;Tracey &Sedlacek,1985)factorshave contributed to the perceptions by African American students of the racialclimate at predominantly White institutions where they are enrolled.Thesefactors,whether positive or negative,contribute to the educational experiences  \nTHE COLLEGE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS JOURNAL  \n# Afro-American Gospel Choir\n\nof and subsequent outcomes for African American students.Thus,it isimportant that this group of students receive support and encouragement,especially through natural settings and environments,such as through religion.One such outlet at the University of Alabama is the Afro-American GospelChoir.  \n# History\n\nIn the summer of 1971,a group of 12 African American students at theUniversity of Alabama entered a talent show sponsored by the Afro-AmericanAssociation.They chose to sing a gospel song representative of the source oftheir faith.During the following fall,some 40 to 50 other students joined theoriginal 12 to form what today is known as the Afro-American Gospel Choir.During its inaugural year,the choir performed concerts in various citiesthroughout Alabama.  \nSince its inception the“Afros,”as they are affectionately called,have had apowerful presence on the University of Alabama campus and throughout thesoutheastern United States.The choir's travels enable them to interact withstudents at other institutions,represent their own institution,and providesupport and encouragement for one another.The choir was founded on theprinciple of togetherness and has provided support for members to overcomedifficulties through faith in God.  \nMembership in the choir is not restricted.Past members included White,international,and non-Christian students.In 2002-2003,membership consistedof 50 young people from Alabama,Georgia,Mississippi,and Algeria.Thisnumber of active participants makes the choir consistently one of the largestAfrican American student groups on campus.  \n# Assessment\n\nTo gain a better understanding of how the choir influenced the collegiateexperiences of the students who participated in it,we conducted in-depthinterviews with 15 former members","cbCaiuGZYTMrmHFO","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiuGZYTMrmHFO","pdf",2680168,"English","# Afro-American Gospel Choir\n## History\n## Assessment\n## Reasons for Involvement","[{\"question\":\"Why does the article emphasize religion for African American students at predominantly White institutions?\",\"answer\":\"It argues that religion offers comfort and encouragement and helps create social networks that support belonging, control, coherence, health, and self-esteem.\"},{\"question\":\"How was the Afro-American Gospel Choir at the University of Alabama founded?\",\"answer\":\"In 1971, 12 African American students began by entering a talent show, and in the following fall additional students joined to form the choir.\"},{\"question\":\"How did the study assess the choir’s influence on students?\",\"answer\":\"The authors conducted in-depth interviews with 15 former members, aiming to understand motivations, personal gains, and perceived benefits for African American students and the campus overall.\"}]","Afro-American Gospel Choir - History - Assessment | PDF",1792089012,18]