Eight Videos Of Black (African American) Choir March Ins (For Church Services Or For Choir Anniversaries)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series about Black (African American) church processions.

Part III showcases eight videos of Black (African American) choir march ins during church services or anniversaries.

Selected comments from discussion threads for some of these videos are also included in this post.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/03/black-church-marches-processions-by.html for Part I provides information about possible cultural influences on Black (African American) church usher, nurses, or choir processions.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/03/seven-videos-of-african-american-black.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases several videos of Black (African American) processions by church ushers or Black church nurses.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks for the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/11/marching-for-jesus-black-church_84.html for a 2011 pancocojams post that features seven videos of Black church processions. With the exception of one video given as #2 below, all of these videos are different than those embedded in this 2019 post. One of the videos in that 2011 post is of a Black Canadian choir marching during the church's collection.

This post contained an update about Black Church choirs marching for the collection (offering) during Sunday service. That subject is featured in a separate post whose link will be added to this post.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Choir March Ins For Church Services

Video #1: St. James Adult Choir - How I Got Over [marching with right hand held up] [St. James Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan]



Marcel West·Uploaded on Jul 26, 2008

St. James Adult Choir singing "How I Got Over" in 1996.
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Here are some comments from this video's discussion threads, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. sheri0005, 2008
"What ever happen to the choir marching? I miss that! I want to march in LOL! I am feeling that for real. That was the thing back in the day." -

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2. gospelbird22, 2008
"In the old days, the custom of raising your right hand while you entered a church or marched in came from Elder Lucy Smith's Pentecostal Church. It was a sign that you had accepted Christ and were saved, as opposed to being a spectator or visitor."

REPLY
3. VantisDoroHall, 2008
in reply to gospelbird22
"Also, at First Church in Chicago, it represented placing your hand in God's hand, in reverence and humility. By the way, First Church and Elder Smith's church historically were two of the first churches of color to broadcast over the radio in Chicago"

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4. jamminondakeys, 2008
"My aunt's church on Detroit used to march in on this version of this song. I wish our choirs still marched in. It adds to the service"

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5. wdawson2, 2009
"I remember when choirs used to spend half of the choir rehersal practicing "The March"."

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6. jazzlife1, 2010
"That's sho nuff good church when the choir used to march in.",

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7. carefulopenandfree, 2010
"growing up in my church, we had to raise our hand when we left or entered the sanctuary."

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8. john316jmb, 2011
"Y'all betta MARCH IN why don't you!!!! YEAH LAWD!!

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9. Kena Parrish, 2012
I loved when the choir marched in the church, and when they stood along the walls and sang the Lord's Prayer. I miss that at times. I loved St. James and I love Shield of Faith.

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Video #2: Sunday Morning Baptist Church Choir Processional [New Orleans, Louisiana]



tdavidray, Published on Aug 20, 2008

A traditional baptist church standard: the choir procession. This is the Second Free Mission Baptist Church Mass Choir in 1994 in New Orleans, LA.
(www.sfmbc.com)

The choir director/organist was the late Sis. Rilma 'Kathy' Thibodeaux. The pianist was Ms. Laura W. Sanders.
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Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. Marcus Carter, 2010
"The Organist or Choral Director seems to have no musical training or training in Worship. The Processional sets the mood/tone for Worship. This song is no processional; at best it is one for Altar Call or Invitation to Christian Discipleship. What is even more sad is this is a Baptist Church, a Church that is known for its hype or hand clapping worship style."

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2. Marcus Burnett, 2010
"wait wait wait....Hold the press!!!! this is not a procession song!!!"

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3. andsowhat28, 2010
"I was so glad when our Pastor allowed us to stop marching... I couldn't stand marching in the choir OMG I can't tell you how much I disliked it lol. Maybe it's because I never understood the significance of it, or it's purpose other than here comes the choir but I never knocked it. Now, we assist with praise & worship so we're just in the choir loft during that time. I can't stand robes either :-) but they are very beautiful"

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4. Rod Primetime, 2010
"I tell you what you don't see any more, a traditional church keeping thing so simple, a processional, a strong prayer, ORDER. Todays church has become a game show in many cases. how can i outdue the other. There chior is bigger than some church congregations. and we say that they are wrong. sounds like old school is the true way. get back to it and receive."

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REPLY
5. Robert Harrison, 2010
"Yes indeed, this simple tradition sets the tone for true worship! A wonderful hymn, the choir gathered for prayer before taking their place. It's reverent and sets the tone for the service. Save the cheerleaders for the sports areana!"

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REPLY
6. Bell Head, 2010
"My church is very traditional and I love it. We a quite a Southern Baptist church. You know an introit, then the processional. The morning prayer followed by a choral response and then Anthem. But I have to tell you I love this posting. These people have come for worship. The entire church is singing. I feel the Spirit in this church, Nobody yelling and screaming the lyrics. Just marching into Zion sing and praying.
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"introit" = probably means "introduction"

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REPLY
7. PatsBooks, 2010
"I love this kind of singing and ritual. It is not entertainment. It is worshipping and is a spiritual thing."

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REPLY
8. Bell Head, 2010
"Thank you Tygtback, I agree with you. This church is in the begining of worship! No no grand standing, no putting on. They are marching into His house to give Him the praise. Glory and honor. When I'm in a church like this and the saint come marching in, like this. I feel like...Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem."

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9. Adam Davis, 2011
"This did seem boring to me at first, but the more I watched, the more enthralled I was. This congregantion is very spiriual and sincere."

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10. PatsBooks, 2011
"I love this kind of singing and ritual. It is not entertainment. It is worshipping and is a spiritual thing."

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11. G. B., 2012
"what is the hymn"

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REPLY
12. scooterbugs25, 2012
"@familyguygerald Never Alone

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12. Marlon D. Gandy, 2015
"I never seen a processional so slow and to a hym....#confused #Boring"

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REPLY
13. ReMarcTeesmom1, 2016
"I have..Antioch Baptist Church back in the day..waaaay back when I was a kid. I'm 63 now..and on this very song, only our choir was larger and had some serious singers!!!

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Video #3: Old School Choir Church Entrance


MoaM, Published on Feb 7, 2017

FB video posted by Mike Steele. No rights assumed or implied.

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Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1. cedric carter, 2018
"YES I DO REMEMBER, I'M AN OLD CHOIR MEMBER.....AND WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE OLD TIME WAY. NOT HAVING WOMEN AND MEN JUST WALKING UP TO THE CHOIR STAND. THAT JUST LOOKS SO TACKY."

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2. Savetd& Sanctified, 2018
"yes i do and this is from say amen somebody and that women is wille mae ford smith"

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3. berriessweetpie, 2018
"Yes I remember marching like that to the choir stand."

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4. David B, 2018
"This is when we took the beginning of worship service seriously. When everyone would rise to their feet and the choir came marching in and singing all the way to the choir loft, you knew it was service time! As a child this was the moment we were hushed by our elders and told it's time for Church! 👏🙌🙏⛪🎶🎹🥁"

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5. AnnNC North Carolina, 2019
"This is from, Say Amen Somebody loved that movie very touching."

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6. Sade Smith, 2019
"Yup this is how we march in back in the days. Now they doing the electric slide, wobble and the soul train line to the choir stand."

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7. Shamar Rawls, 2019
"I miss our choir marching in ...most churches now a days are doing away with marching as well as wearing robes....those were golden moments to me being a loyal choir member.."

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8. Jaye Beatty, 2019
"Yes, yes, yes! The choir marching in was one of the highlights of service. Use to get you in mood for church before Devotion. My Lord! Devotion! I grew up Baptist, so Devotion was important to us. Times have changed so much, and they have cut out a lot of the things we know to hold true for service. Bring back the march in, devotion, seat shouting in the pews, and some honest pastors. “Guide Me Over Thou Great Jehovah, Lead (Pilgrim) Me Through This Barren Land”...take me back, please!"
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Here's a review of the DVD edition of the 1980 documentary Say Amen, Somebody:
From https://www.amazon.com/Amen-Somebody-Bonus-George-Nierenberg/dp/B000KHX7HG
"There's good news aplenty in this DVD reissue of Say Amen, Somebody, director George T. Nierenberg's 1980 film focusing on some of the giants of modern gospel music and the younger singers whom they inspired. That's "good news" as in the word of God, and what better way to express the power of faith than through this powerful and uplifting music? Liner notes writer Anthony Heilbut describes the film as an exploration of "the golden age of gospel music in its dying hour," and Nierenberg (whose informative and illuminating commentary track, like Heilbut's lengthy notes, is one of the several features that justify the DVD's "bonus deluxe" tag) focuses principally on two senior citizens: Thomas Dorsey, often credited as "the father of gospel music," and Willie Mae Ford Smith, a St. Louis-based singer and an innovator who helped popularize the modern gospel singing style, with its emphasis on exaggerated, open-mouthed vibrato and careful articulation of the lyrics.

Dorsey is an engaging raconteur who explains the origins of modern gospel (once a secular songwriter who wrote for Ma Rainey and others, he added rhythm to traditional hymns and spirituals, essentially "bringing the blues into church") and speaks movingly of the trials and tribulations that led to his writing the classic "Precious Lord." For her part, Smith is not only a tireless worker but something of a feminist pioneer who insisted early on that women have just as much right as men to spread the word (her own son's remark that "women ought to stay in their proper place: behind the man" illustrates what an uphill battle that was, and is); this chauvinism, along with the creeping commercialism that makes singers like the O'Neal Twins wonder if they're compromising their evangelical calling, are among the deeper issues Nierenberg's film addresses. But in the long run, of course, it's all about the music, and the DVD package includes 18 complete performances accessible via separate menu, as well as a 15-song CD. All of this will prompt not only a few "amens," but no doubt some "hallelujahs" too. --Sam Graham"
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This review is reformatted to enhance its readability.

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March Ins For Anniversaries

Video #1: Macedonia M.B.Church Choir 44th Choir Anniversary March In [Moultrie, Georgia]



deaconreeves, Published on Feb 19, 2012
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M. B. = Missionary Baptist [denomination]

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Video #2: Mount Moriah Baptist Church Musical Mass Choir Anniversary



AC Jackson, Published on Sep 9, 2013
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Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread
Sabrina Taylor, 2018
"Haaay!!!!! I would have fun marching with this choir. Drill team time!!!!"

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Video #3: Choir's Electric Slide March In



KevOnStage, Published on Oct 12, 2014

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Video #4: Women's day Choir Processional (Come on in this house)



Tyrezzy100, Published on Apr 26, 2015

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This concludes Part III of this three part series.

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