Inspired
by the
Baha’i Faith
The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. The official website of the Baha'i Faith is: Bahai.org. The official website of the Baha'is of the United States can be found here: Bahai.us.
GOT IT
The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.
How do I become Baha’i?
Culture
6 MINS

Freedom Trilogy performed by Van Gilmer

PRESENTED BY Van Gilmer | Jun 26, 2020
6 MINS

For so long, everyone who has experienced the feeling of being in bondage has longed for their own Freedom. So it was for many, many men and women who were stolen from Africa centuries ago to become slaves here in America. As music became a safe way to worship God and also express hope for ending slavery in America, the Negro Spiritual was born. They expressed Joy and Hope during a time when practically all Black people were in bondage!

Three Negro Spirituals were combined into what is now called The Freedom Trilogy that expresses so vividly this hope for Freedom.

Though it is still hard to believe, the Black people of Texas were not told that they were now free and were not so call “freed” until June Nineteenth of 1865.  It is now called Juneteenth or Freedom Day, and is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans throughout the former Confederacy.

After over 150 years have passed, I still sing the Freedom Trilogy as it still so vividly expresses our longing for Freedom in our lives that one day we all will be truly free.

Tags: Music , Race

Van Gilmer, renowned soloist, composer, and director, is a native of Greensboro North Carolina, and graduated from NC Agricultural & Technical State University with a BS in Architectural Engineering. During that early period, he was also directly involved in the sit-ins of the 1960’s to...

READ MORE

Comments

characters remaining
  • Mysti Duncan
    May 24, 2019
    -
    Mr Gilmore, that was truly beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
  • Ronald White
    Feb 24, 2019
    -
    Nice videos that keeps me close to the Divine teachings during this lesser peace series of human events! It’s would be nice if some one can explain this! Thank you! Allah u Abha!
  • Joan Hayes
    Sep 3, 2018
    -
    Thank you, Van, for your courage, your integrity, your heart, and your ability to share your well-trained, God-given voice with us all!
  • Dennis McGregor
    Jun 20, 2018
    -
    Thank you Mr. Gilmer!
  • Patricia Verge
    Jun 20, 2018
    -
    Powerful and so moving. Thank you!!
x
x
Connect with Baha’is in your area
Welcome!
What's your name?
Thanks my friend ! We want to connect you with a Baha’i in your area, where would that be?
Thank you so much! How can they best reach you?
To put you in touch with a Baha’i in your area who can answer your questions, we would like to kindly ask for a few details about yourself.
Connect with Baha’is in your area
Connect with Baha’is in your area
Get in touch with the Baha’is in your community.