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Volume 70, Issue 89,
Thursday, February 10, 2005
News Civil rights figure continues to inspire Odetta became famous for her role
as a folk singer and activist
By Rachael Seeley
Seasoned folk singer and civil rights activist Odetta shared her wisdom and vocal talent with a crowd of around 70 local educators at UH's Athletic/Alumni Center on Wednesday evening. Famous for her role in the civil rights movement, Odetta sang at the march on Washington in 1963 where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I have a dream" speech. She is credited with reviving folk music, and her music inspired such famous singers as Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin. "We have an uphill climb because we have all been affected by bias and stereotypes," Odetta said, referring to the current state of race relations in the United States. She cited black sitcoms and rap music as promoters of negative stereotypes and admonished the crowd to recognize their negative effects on children and themselves. She then opened the floor to questions from educators and listened intently as they voiced their frustrations in getting children interested in civil rights. "The problem has not been solved ... the movement is still alive," Odetta said. "It's really not about civil rights, it's human rights." Odetta expressed concern about the situation of human rights in Iraq and today's civil rights issues. "They have been chipping away at the Constitution for years now -- all you have to say is ‘terrorists,'" she said. Her deep, soulful voice filled the room as she shared with the audience spirituals sung by slaves. Her excellent performance conveyed her deep passion for folk music and the plight of those who experienced slavery. "It is a joy to be able to bring her here -- I mean, here is the person who is kind of the inspiration for Bob Dylan," said Steven Mintz, history professor and co-organizer of the event. "People we know well today were influenced by her. She was really a key figure in the folk revival." Odetta got her start in music in the coffee houses of San Francisco in the early 1950s. She had aspirations of becoming an opera singer but could not break the color barrier, so she turned to folk music. Her recording debut came in 1954 with The Tin Angel. Wednesday's event was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History Grant Partners, which include the UH College of Education and Department of History, The Houston Independent School District, Region IV Education Service Center and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The campus will have the chance to see Odetta in
a free concert at 7:30 p.m. today at Cullen Performance Hall.
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