Royalties For Spirituals
First Church is proud to launch Royalties for Spirituals, an initiative to honor the legacy of Black spirituals and invest in the future of Black musicians. Rooted in our commitment to racial justice and the power of sacred music, this effort will provide ongoing financial support to organizations that educate and empower Black students in music.
The initiative was unanimously approved by our Church Council and emerges from thoughtful conversations held earlier this year. As a congregation that regularly sings and celebrates music from the Black church tradition, we recognize that these songs—many born from the suffering and resilience of enslaved people—were never compensated.
It’s time to pay that debt forward.
What Is Royalties For Spirituals?
Where Did The Idea Originate?
How Will First Church Participate?
A nationwide movement, Royalties for Spirituals acknowledges that the composers of Negro Spirituals were never paid for their work. While we can’t go back and offer direct compensation, we can move forward with a commitment to justice—supporting music education for Black students as a form of reparative giving.
The concept began in 2021 at United Parish in Brookline, MA, when their Minister of Music invited the congregation to begin collecting “royalties” every time a spiritual was sung. This powerful idea has since spread to churches across the country.
We will collect voluntary contributions anytime we sing or share spirituals in worship, directing these funds to a partner organization that supports Black music education. A team from our church has been actively identifying the right partner organization, and we look forward to sharing more details soon.