‘Courage‘ is a collection of songs, poetry and conversation which aims to challenge and inspire everyone to actively contribute to dismantling racism and inequalities within their sphere of influence. Soul Sanctuary has worked with the poet and rapper, Solomon O.B and St James’s Piccadilly to bring this hour-long piece to Youtube.

As well as music and poetry, ‘Courage‘ features a conversation between choir members about the events of the summer and how it had affected them and their hopes for the future. Choir Director, Clarence Hunte commented: “As an ethnically diverse, yet Black majority choir, we wanted to respond to the events of the past few months by creating music that would draw attention, with depth and sensitivity, to the issues and emotions associated with the fight against racial injustice.  Many of us experience racism and we have talked together about the message we wanted to send and the changes we want to see in society.”

He continued: “Our intention is to create an artistic experience that inspires people of all ethnicities to draw on their courage and continue the fight against racism.  We also want to help ensure the cause is not forgotten, at a time when COVID-19 and other world events have meant it is no longer in the headlines.”

Soul Sanctuary commissioned the spoken word artist, Solomon O.B to create a bespoke response.  The Bristol-based activist was a visible figurehead at the frontline of the Black Lives Matter protests in Bristol which included BBC News interviews and coverage.  We hope his contribution will bring additional understanding of the evils of racism.

One of the songs chosen for the piece, ‘Strange Fruit’, was first recorded by jazz artist Billie Holiday in 1939. This chilling protest song hauntingly protests the lynching of Black Americans. Two other songs, ‘Change the World’ and ‘Pain’ are from Snoop Dogg’s 2018 release, ‘Bible of Love’, sung by John Kee and B Slade, respectively.  John Legend’s call to action, ‘If you’re out there’ and Whitney Houston’s ‘Step by Step’ bring energy and a sense of hope and optimism to the piece.

The venue where much of ‘Courage’ was filmed in St James’s Church, Piccadilly. Soul Sanctuary have sung there at special church services featuring gospel music since 2014, often outside in the courtyard to crowds of shoppers and tourists. The Rector of St James’s Church, Lucy Winkett said ‘It has been our privilege to work with Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir for many years now, in our services, at concerts and in broadcasts. We are proud to host this ‘Soul at Saint James’ first event focusing on ‘Courage’. In co-creating this event, we pledge ourselves to do everything we can to confront and dismantle the scourge of racism, knowing that this has to start with the church itself’.  

‘Courage’ is free to view, an hour in length and the first in the Soul at Saint James series of events, a collaboration between Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir and Saint James’s Church, Piccadilly.  For this event, they are also partnering with Lyrix Organix.  The series aims to explore profound themes of human life, and of our times, including Love, Justice, Refuge, Solace and it was originally conceived as an outdoor event held in the church’s courtyard on Sunday afternoons.

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