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Black Student Organization

The Ebony Expressions

Timothy Allmond, class of 1978, organized the College of William & Mary student choir Ebony Expressions in 1975.

"The Ebony Expressions started as a group of seven undergraduate students under the direction of Timothy Allmond. Timothy was a senior music major and he organized the group as a project for a music class. At that time the choir was called The Black Student Organization Choir, but the name was changed in 1977. Presently (as of 1982) the choir has 16 members who sing for the colelge and surrounding communities. The choir has performed for sevearl churches in teh area including the historical Bruton Parish, several student organizations, charity projects, and guest speakers for the college. The Ebony Expressions recently performed for Maya Angelou, and also for the Williamsburg Public Library's dedication ceremony. This years (1981-1982) officers; Rhonda Gillespie-Director; Hansen Martin-President; Maureen Grey-Sec/Treasurer; Brian Scott-Historian; Ephrom Walker-Sgt. at Arms." (From the program for the Ebony Expressions 1982 Spring Concert, April 11, 1982, College of William & Mary)

References

  • "Black Student Organization-Ebony Expressions' Folder, Student Organizations Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, William & Mary.

Material in the Special Collections Research Center

The Flat Hat, William & Mary News, and Alumni Gazette:

  • Pressure group organized FH, 3/13/1970, pg. 1.
  • Change constitution to permit non-blacks to belong FH, 4/17/1970, pg. 4.
  • President Kermit Dance discusses segregated image of W & M FH, 9/18/1970, pg. 1.
  • Becomes affiliated with WATS FH, 10/2/1970, pg. 3.
  • Black Student Organization House opened FH, 10/9/1970, pg. 1.
  • BSO House (picture) FH, 12/11/1970, pg. 8.
  • Sponsors lecture by African Literature expert Ernest N. Emenyonu FH, 2/9/1971, pg. 2.
  • Excerpts from lecture CO, 2/16/1971, pg. 3.
  • Sponsors "The Last Minstrel Show" by the Hampton Institute Players C, 3/4/1971, pg. 2; FH, 3/5/1971, pg. 6.
  • Sponsors lecture by Julian Bond (picture) FH, 4/2/1971, pg. 1; C, 4/1/1971, pg. 3; FH, 4/6/1971, pg. 1.
  • Review of speech FH, 4/13/1971, pg. 1.
  • Stresses "Black Awareness" FH, 4/20/1971, pg. 4.
  • Challenge KA secession March FH, 5/7/1971, pg. 1; FH, 5/14/1971, pg. 1.
  • Cooperates with College-Wide Reading program to present Shirley Chisholm speaking FH, 12/3/1971, pg. 4.
  • Co-sponsors, with SA and SA Senate, talk by Dick Gregory during Black Culture Week C, 2/10/1972, pg. 5; FH, 2/18/1972, pg. 2; C, 2/24/1972, pg. 3.
  • Gregory talk highlights Black Culture Program FH, 2/25/1972, pg. 1.
  • State Senator Doulas Wilder to speak during Black Culture week C, 3/2/1972, pg. 4.
  • BSO publication comes off press this week WMN, 3/6/1973, pg. 7.
  • "adds a valuable dimension to campus" AG, April 1973, pg. 3 (pictures).
  • Black Culture Week WMN, 4/17/1973, pg. 6.
  • "Different image" FH, 12/7/1973, pg. 3.
  • 1974-75 officers elected WMN, 4/23/1974, pg. 5.
  • New president looks to future FH, 5/10/1974, pg. 5.
  • Sponsors Black Culture Week WMN, 1/28/1975, pg. 1 & 4; FH, 1/31/1975, pg. 7.
  • S.A., Film Series & English Dept. help defray expenses of Black Culture Week FH, 1/31/1975, pg. 4.
  • Black Culture Week activities FH, 2/7/1975, pg. 23-24.
  • Sponsors basketball game to benefit King scholarship WMN, 3/25/1975, pg. 1.
  • Officers elected for '75-'76 WMN, 5/13/1975, pg. 1.
  • Sponsors Black Culture series WMN, 2/3/1976, pg. 1; FH, 2/6/1976, pg. 9.
  • Harvard psychiatrist to lecture as part of Black Culture Series WMN, 2/10/1976, pg. 1.
  • Black Culture series conludes with performance of "Black Odyssey" FH, 2/27/1976, pg. 5 & 7.
  • Sponsored seminar-workshops on needs of minority students in higher Education WMN, 3/23/1976, pg. 4.
  • BSO hold meeting with Graves FH, 11/12/1976, pg. 1, 7.
  • Claims College continues neglect FH, 1/21/1977, pg. 3.
  • Sponsors Black Culture Week featuring Julian Bond FH, 2/11/1977, pg. 2; WMN, 2/8/1977, pg. 1.
  • LeRoy Moore comments on problems of black students FH, 1/28/1977, pg. 5.
  • Sponsors lecture by William Raspberry WMN, 4/12/1977, pg. 2.
  • Sponsors reception for new black students WMN, 4/19/1977, pg. 1.
  • Black enrollees evaluate college FH, 4/29/1977, pg. 1, 7.
  • Plans programs to spotlight Black Heritage WMN, 1/31/1978, pg. 1, 4; FH, 2/3/1978, pg. 13.
  • Plan Unity Day WMN, 3/28/1978, pg. 6.
  • Sponsers Dick Gregory, WMN, 2/6/1979, pg. 3.
  • Art exhibit, Sale WMN, 2/13/1979, pg. 3.
  • Celebrates Black Heritage Month, WMN, 2/5/1980, pg. 6.
  • Talent Show WMN, 2/12/1980, pg. 3.
  • Blacks at W & M FH, 9/5/1980, pg. 1 (picture).
  • Black Student life FH, 9/19/1980, pg. 2 (picture).
  • Sponsor Houston to speak WMN, 11/4/1980, pg. 3 (picture).
  • Modern Dance Program Opens History Month, WMN, 2/3/1981, pg. 3.
  • Young, Williams appear in dance tribute to blacks, 2/13/1981, pg. 24 (picture).
  • Black History Month WMN, 2/17/1981, pg. 5.
  • "For Colored Girls" celebrates equality at PBK FH, 2/20/1981, pg. 11.
  • Houston Baker to speak in Office of Minority Affairs - Black Student Organization lecture series WMN, 10/27/1981, pg. 4.
  • Halloween capers help Head Start Children WMN, 11/3/1981, pg. 6 (picture).
  • Houston Baker to speak WMN, 11/10/1981, pg. 6.
  • "Sweet Honey" Maya Angelou headline BSO series WMN, 1/19/1982, pg. 3 (picture).
  • Charles E. Daye N.C. Central Law Dean to speak WMN, 1/26/1982, pg. 3.
  • Army General, Arthur Holmes plans talk in observance of Black History Month WMN, 2/2/1982, pg. 3.
  • Helps black students adjust AG, April 1982, pg. 3.
  • Hampton Institute Choir to perform, WMN, 2/9/1982, pg. 3.
  • Ms. Maya Angelou Here WMN, 2/16/1982, pg. 1 (picture).
  • Maya Angelou advocates freedom and equality for all FH, 2/26/1982, pg. 24.
  • Rick Coleman concert features student, singer, songwriter WMN, 3/16/1982, pg. 4.
  • Elaine Jones to talk WMN, 3/16/1982, pg. 4.
  • Reception WMN, 4/27/1982, pg. 7 (picture).
  • Headstart gets a hand 5/4'/1982, pg. 4 (picture).
  • Poet Nikki Giovanni here WMN, 11/9/1982, pg. 4 (picture).
  • Nikki Giovanni: yearning for the future FH, 11/12/1982, pg. 16.
  • Poet Gwendolyn Brooks to read from her work WMN, 1/18/1983, pg. 2; WMN, 1/25/1983, pg. 3.
  • NSU Ambassadors Troupe to perform WMN, 1/25/1983, pg. 3.
  • Black Thespian Society gives performance for poet Brooks WMN, 2/1/1983, pg. 2 (picture).
  • Touring Ambassadors deliver no knock-out FH, 2/4/1983, pg. 21 (picture).
  • Lt. Gen. Julius W. Benton next on Black History Month series WMN, 2/8/1983, pg. 6 (picture).
  • Poussaint speaks in Black History Month series WMN, 2/15/1983, pg. 1, 6 (picture).
  • Congressman Louis Stokes speaks in Black History Month WMN, 2/22/1983, pg. 4 (picture).
  • BSO Fetes Seniors, Takes a Look Back WMN, 4/26/1983, pg. 1, 4 (picture).
  • BSO reunion AG, June 1983, pg. 22 (picture).
  • Sponsors Bond FH, 11/18/1983, pg. 1, 4.
  • Runs preview for high schoolers FH, 11/18/1983, pg. 4.
  • Students spend weekend on campus WMN, 11/22/1983, pg. 2.
  • Esther Rolle performs 'Ain't I a Woman' FH, 1/27/1984, pg. 21.
  • Rodney Williams coming back to give dance program WMN, 1/31/1984, pg. 2 (picture).
  • Jo Ann Lanier to give concert WMN, 2/14/1984, pg. 5 (picture).
  • Gives party for seniors WMN, 4/17/1984, pg. 6 (picture).
  • Angela Davis to speak on "Women and the struggle against apartheid" WMN, 3/27/1985, pg. 2.
  • To present show with Rodney Williams WMN, 4/10/1985, pg. 7.
  • Sponsors appearance of Jennifer Lewis WMN, 10/9/1985, pg. 3.
  • Celebrating Black History Month FH, 2/21/1986, pg. 9, 13.
  • Toasts 1987 graduates WMN, 5/6/1987, pg. 2 (picture).
  • Sponsors "What Shall I Tell My Children?" (A Tribute In Music and Dance) WMN, 1/27/1988, pg. 4 (picture).
  • Sponsors poet Nikki Giovanni WMN, 2/3/1988, pg. 8.
  • Sponsors Ebony Expressions as part of Black History Month FH, 2/26/1988, pg. 13, 15.
  • Honors seniors at reception WMN, 4/27/1988, pg. 6 (picture).
  • Receives Lambert Cup WMN, 11/16/1988, pg. 2 (picture).
  • Sponsored Oscar Blayton talk on M. L. King, Jr., Day AG, March 1989, pg. 20.
  • New hope dawns for children FH, 3/24/1989, pg. 8, 10.
  • Hattie Sasser wins Martin Luther King Jr. Award WMN, 1/17/1990, pg. 3 (pictures).
  • Hosts alumni reception FH, 10/27/1989, pg. 9.
  • BSO hosts annual awards ceremony WMN, 4/25/1990, pg. 5 (pictures).
  • BSO formal scheduled for Homecoming FH, 10/26/1990, pg. 10.
  • Co-Sponsors program in memory of Martin Luther King Jr. WMN, 1/16/1991, pg. 1.
  • African American history lives on FH, 2/14/1992, pg. 7, 10.
  • Women's Issues Group sponsors poetry Readings in celebration of Black History Month WMN, 2/26/1992, pg. 1.
  • "Living the Dream" WMN, 2/26/1992, pg. 3 (picture).
  • Nikki Giovanni to present program for Black History Month WMN, 2/19/1992, pg. 1 (picture).
  • AIDS Awareness Week events FH, 4/3/1992, pg. 8.
  • Sponsors Lenora B. Fulani speech WMN, 10/7/1992, pg. 3.
  • Lenora Fulani speaks at Tucker FH, 10/16/1992, pg. 6 (picture).
  • 'An Evening with Gloria Naylor' WMN, 1/27/1993, pg. 1.
  • Black History Month FH, 2/5/1993, pg. 16.
  • Black history month FH, 2/19/1993, pg. 19.
  • Marching for change FH, 9/3/1993, pg. 7, 10 (picture).
  • Onyx: a literary gem FH, 9/10/1993, pg. 9, 12.
  • Black Greek Step Show FH, 10/22/1993, pg. 9, 10.
  • Celebrating countless black heroes FH, 2/4/1994, pg. 9.
  • Al Sharpton to be Black History Month speaker WMN, 2/23/1994, pg. 3.
  • Black Greek Homecoming Stepshow FH, 10/28/1994, pg. 19.
  • Plans 25th anniversary dinner extravaganza WMN, 11/2/1994, pg. 3.
  • Honors past and present FH, 11/4/1994, pg. 9, 15.
  • Greeks to perform at stepshow FH, 11/4/1994, pg. 9, 13.
  • Celebrates its past and present WMN, 11/18/1994, pg. 6 (picture).
  • Celebrates its past and present AG, Dec. 1994, pg. 12, 13 (picture).
  • Writer Bebe Moore Campbell speaks about her works FH, 2/3/1995, pg. 9, 11.
  • Forum sparks unity FH, 3/17/1995, pg. 7, 9.
  • Bobby Seale informs students of Civil Rights Movement FH, 2/2/1996, pg. 1, 4 (picture).
  • A living, breathing history lesson provided by Bobby Seale AG, Feb. 1996, pg. 12, 13 (picture).
  • Race issues addressed FH, 11/21/1997, pg. 1, 5.
  • Sponsors lecture on Middle Passage FH, 4/17/1998, pg. 1, 4.
  • Sponsors talk on interrace issues FH, 12/4/1998, pg. 1, 4 (picture).
  • Ties that bind FH, 4/21/2000, pg. 5.

 

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A note about the contents of this site

This website contains the best available information from known sources at the time it was written. Unfortunately, many of the early original records of William & Mary were destroyed by fires, military occupation, and the normal effects of time. The information in this website is not complete, and it changes as we continue to research and uncover new sources.