COLONIAL HYMNS

I hope this example was illustrative in how hymnody and the colonial past of the church can collide in surprising ways. A little research can go a long way!

Key Points to Consider

-The universal Church as well as most major denominations/branches of Christianity have connectional to a colonial past where music and language were used to forcibly convert people, often people of color. Depending on where your community is located, this can be easily forgotten or overlooked. Educate yourself on colonialism that your denomination perpetuated or colonialism that happened in your region.

-When using hymnals or other music collections published decades ago, it is important to consider what Christian music is underrepresented or not included or included in a manner that perpetuates ethnic stereotypes.

-Double-check any historical or contextual information provided in older hymnals. Does that group of people still prefer that name? Has that place been renamed? (For example, many common names for indigenous tribal groups in the U.S. and Canada are now considered inaccurate or offensive.)

-If you are going to verbally announce the title of a nonEnglish song or (more generally) sing in a foreign language, work to verify the proper pronunciation.

-Consider the performance and ensure that certain accompaniment doesn’t perpetuate ethnic stereotypes. (For example, a lot of older hymnals suggest randomly adding drums to non-Western hymns.)