Fisk Jubilee Singers Introduce Black Spirituals to the World

The Fisk Jubilee Singers, founded in 1871 to raise funds for Fisk University, completed their second European tour in 1875, performing before Queen Victoria and heads of state across Europe. Their performances of Black spirituals — the first time these songs were systematically preserved and performed in concert settings — raised over $150,000 for Fisk and introduced the world to African American sacred music as high art.