Carlie Pracht
Managing Editor
Galen Abdur-Razzaq is a master flutist who performs and presents to audiences on the relationship between jazz and the Civil Rights Movement. Abdur-Razzaq’s presentation was a gift courtesy of the estate of Harold Smith and the Butler Community College Foundation. Carlie Pracht
On Thursday, Feb. 6 the Black Student Association and the Student Government Association hosted master flutist Galen Abdur-Razzaq and his performative presentation of “Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement.” The performance was sponsored by the Harold Smith Cultural series, which was gifted to Butler County by the estate of Harold Smith and the Butler Community College Foundation.
Abdur-Razzaq performed as well as lectured to Butler students and faculty at the Hubbard Welcome Center on the BOE campus. Abdur-Razzaq aims to provide his audiences with a further understanding of jazz music and why it was significant the during the civil rights movement.
The presentation consisted of various jazz performances interspersed with informative speeches about various artists and public figures that helped popularize and support the Civil Rights Movement.
Abdur-razzaq detailed the lives and involvement in the civil rights movement of celebrities such as jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, singer and songwriter Harry Belafonte, musician and composer Charles Mingus and singer songwriter Nina Simone.
“It was really interesting to hear about how jazz was so important during the civil rights movement and to hear about the musicians who used their music and their popularity to push for equal rights,” sophomore Rachel Walker said.
