As our congregation continues to strive to live by our Eighth Principle, our Music Committee has noted that we have incorporated Spirituals in worship regularly over the years, and that the people who wrote and created this music have never been recognized or compensated.

Enslaved Africans and African Americans left behind a legacy of breathtakingly beautiful music. They soothe, inspire, break down walls, protest indignities, preach the good news, and lead us in the path of righteousness. Unlike other hymns and worship music, Negro Spirituals were not published until after the names of their creators were long forgotten, if they were ever even known. As an artform, Negro Spirituals are the unacknowledged intellectual property of the enslaved Africans in America.

In an effort toward embodying anti-racism through reparative actions, UUCA’s Music Committee is initiating taking an offering every time we use a Spiritual in our services, as a symbolic, meaningful effort to acknowledge the debt we owe to this tremendous heritage of music.

The Music Committee has designated the local Akron non-profit group YEPAW (Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop) as the recipient of this offering because of the transformative, life altering work YEPAW does for young people in the Akron area. YEPAW embraces the values and traditions of African Americans and uses the arts to engage middle and high school urban youth in activities that provide positive options for developing their talents, skills and self-esteem.  It provides the culture, relationships and opportunities needed by youth to pursue lifestyles of excellence, develop in a healthy and holistic manner, complete their high school and advanced education, prepare for their future careers, and serve others and their community.  

An offering box will be placed upon the piano to receive donations to YEPAW (as a way of “paying royalties”). You may contribute to the box anytime, but it will be especially encouraged on Sundays we use Spirituals during worship. 

You may also contribute online by choosing “reparations through music” on the drop-down menu.

We hope that this is a tangible way of acknowledging our indebtedness for this music as we journey toward racial justice and healing together.