Last Monday I woke up and walked up the hill to Bailey Hall. Students were roaming around, on their way to class or lunch, talking with their friends and peers. It was such an ordinary day, and the American and Geneseo flags blew in the wind. This Monday I woke up and walked up the hill to Bailey Hall. But it was not such an ordinary day, the flags didn’t fly as high as they once had. On the sidewalk parallel to me marched a mass of students echoing the shouts of a leader I could not see. As myself and the group across from me reached the college green, student activity seemed to stop, and casual talk trailed off. All eyes were following the chanting group. And they held the air.
The voices that echoed back were loud and strong and powerful. And at times, angry. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, coming from a suburban neighborhood in central NY. I eventually stopped to watch, eyes wide, fascinated. They immediately captured the attention of anyone who could hear them, and it was incredible to me how they were able to control the atmosphere so quickly.
As I stood there gaping at what was unfolding in front of me, I was reminded of a film we viewed in class about the importance and significance regarding song in African American culture. It had been a while since I had seen the film, so as soon as I got back to my dorm I rummaged through my notebook looking for anything I had taken note of during the viewing. For whatever reason I did not take note of any names, but there were some scribbles that stood out to me immediately. They included: “Song is a way to cover a whole new territory. This is real, we are here…” “As long as you are singing, the song does not leave the air…” “Songs need to express the desire to change your situation.” The group of students that marched today might not have been singing, but they absolutely covered new territory, were very real, and even after the group dispersed about an hour later, I could still hear their loud echo in my mind, and could feel it in the air.
Among other sloppily taken notes, I had written down “Every moment is sacred, and you are in a constant state of awe and humility.” In reflection of the events that have occurred in France and other nations, never have I truly been able to understand the phrase above. The mass of students expressed their desire to change their situation, and in that moment, their voices were unified and powerful. Anyone could hear the anger and the desire for change in their voices. People of every ethnicity coming together and shouting back at the leader was an incredible sight. The control they held was intimidatingly powerful. And they held the air.