October 17th brings us two powerful observances: Black Poetry Day and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Anniversary. On the surface, one celebrates literary genius, and the other honors heroic service. For Chorus Polaris, they resonate together as a single, stirring theme: the essential need to recognize and amplify voices that have too often been left out of the main chorus of history.

Chorus Polaris is committed to our mission of engaging, connecting, and strengthening communities through music that shares and celebrates the human experience. To truly celebrate the full human experience, we must actively seek the stories of those whose contributions have been marginalized.

Black Poetry Day honors the birth of Jupiter Hammon, the first published Black American poet, and the enduring contributions of Black literary artists who have given voice to struggle, triumph, love, and the complex reality of the Black experience in America. Some of the names you should know are artists like Phillis Wheatley, Maya Angelou, and Gwendolyn Brooks. When choral composers set these powerful (sometimes defiant) stanzas to music, the choir becomes a vessel for not just performance, but for insightful storytelling. When we sing this poetry, we are directly fulfilling our commitment to respecting each person's individuality by elevating their unique perspective for the world to hear.

This act of amplification is directly linked to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Anniversary.  This day honors the millions of women who have served our nation, often facing dual battles: the enemy abroad and prejudice at home. Within this group are countless Black servicewomen whose stories of courage, innovation, and perseverance in a segregated military are critical parts of American history.

Beauty Forthcoming

Imagine the compositions that could be created from their letters, their poems, or their oral histories! The act of turning a servicewoman's experience into a choral piece is the ultimate connection between these two observances. It is how we, as a community ensemble, honor the resilience of those who’ve served and the power of the poets who articulate the human spirit.

When we champion music that features texts by Black poets (especially those who may have served or written about service, like the wartime poems of a poet like Carrie Williams Clifford), we ensure that their experiences are not unsung. We strengthen the connection between the poet and the rest of us. That is a critical part of the Chorus Polaris mission.

October 17th is a day we honor these brave women and these inspiring writers. We reaffirm our vision: a world where communities support everyone, and where every act of service and every powerful voice is celebrated through the universal language of music. Don’t view their stories as footnotes. Their stories are the next great work of choral art waiting to be performed!

__________ 

Are you a Black female poet who has served in the U.S. military? Let’s get to know one another! 

Do you know, or know of, other female poets who have served in the U.S. military? Tell us about her/them below. Or, put us in touch with one another! They can email us (‘sing@choruspolaris.org’), connect with us on Facebook, or on X (@Chorus_Polaris). Who knows? Another great work of art could be in the making!"