Have you ever been asked who should or should not sing spirituals? How about the discussion of not being able to sing a spiritual song based on your race? How about using the spiritual to draw connections to your public-school students? In today's choral ensemble, the spiritual is used to educate and heal. In a society where racism is still one of the most talked-about issues and problems globally, it is the spiritual that the choral educators can use to draw on history and help unite one another.

In this article, the researcher shares the importance and relevance of the African American spiritual in the public-school classroom. Shying away from teaching spirituals in the choral classroom deprives the students and the teacher of an immense educational opportunity. By singing spirituals, it benefits the singer by broadening their global understanding of those involved. It allows discussions related to the past and present norms and helps to build a positive and cohesive educational setting.

While we as choral conductors may be hesitant in teaching any style of music that makes us uncomfortable or that we are not familiar with, it is important that recognize the limitations that we present to our students. Not only does this not provide our students with a well-rounded music experience, but it also limits the discussions that we could have, the insight into the lives of others, and most importantly, the togetherness. While spirituals can be a hot topic in many public-school systems due to their religious background, we should find alternatives in presenting this to all who enter our rehearsal space.