On the history of the Negro in Knox Part 1

................................ Marian Anderson........................

Today's trivia question to prepare you for the “Clash of Civilizations”.
What is a Contralto?
In music, an alto or contralto is a singer with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a mezzo-soprano. The term is used to refer to the lowest female singing voice, or to a kind of male singing voice utilizing falsetto called a countertenor.
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Please, allow me to go back a little bit in local history. I promise it won’t be a nostalgia trip like one of Ed Hasnerl’s “Good Old Days Back in the One Room School House”. Really, I promise! But it really is a shame that Ed isn’t doing this piece. I have a feeling that he knows a lot more about it than I do. Perhaps he will take up the challenge? We are looking forward to hearing from you Ed, “Speaking of Many Things”.


Prior to the 1960’s the powers-that-be in Knox were pretty easy to identify. They all hung around Bessie’s Restaurant on Highway 35 (where the liquor store is now). Once upon that time Marian Anderson came to Knox to sing a concert. Ah, and that she did. The world-famous classical music and Negro spiritual singer graced our high school gym with the most beautiful music that was ever or will be ever heard in our little city. The kind of embarrassing moment that most would just as soon forget came afterwards when Marian went to Bessie’s for a bite to eat. I wasn’t there, but I would guess that the leading citizens of Knox were crowded into their favorite eating spot. And I would guess that they didn’t jump up to object when fat Bessie refused Marian Anderson service.

Can you even imagine? Shortly after her Knox visit she was appointed a member of the US delegation to the United Nations. She had toured the world to the highest acclaim. Her final concert at Carnegie Hall, New York broke the heart of the nation.
Please. Please, visit http://www.mariananderson.org/ to hear her sing “Lord I Can’t stay Away”, “You were There” and 10 other songs of astounding spiritual depth and beauty. Then imagine Bessie’s Restaurant that day.

Things have changed? Really? Yes, emphatically. But are there still problems of this sort? Yes, emphatically. I’ll go there in Part 2. Please stay tuned.


Note on the usage of the word Negro. The word is often considered offensive. I use it here to reference historic and scholarly documents and in order to capture the archaic flavor of life in Knox.