# Call and response-- a black church phenomenon **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-and-response-a-black-church-phenomenon/735960 "2015-10-28T13:24:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-and-response-a-black-church-phenomenon/735960/21 "2015-10-30T11:16:41Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Its part of their culture and its something that white teachers have to get used to when they teach in a black classroom. Also something black kids have to learn to drop when they are not. > > Yeah, kind of sounds racist but its really not when you get to know the cultures. I’m not sure if you’re answering the OP or just going off on a tangent. I, white, taught for three years in an all Black high school in NC. in the 1960s. I never heard call and response except in a church. Certainly not in a school classroom. How do you come by your information? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2015, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-and-response-a-black-church-phenomenon/735960/22 "2015-10-30T11:48:26Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > I’m not sure if you’re answering the OP or just going off on a tangent. I, white, taught for three years in an all Black high school in NC. in the 1960s. I never heard call and response except in a church. Certainly not in a school classroom. How do you come by your information? By 2 years teaching in an all black high school in the 90’s. Also there we were taught by black instructors HOW to teach black kids and they talked about this. Did that happen in the 60’s? ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-and-response-a-black-church-phenomenon/735960/23 "2015-11-01T05:51:57Z")
Check out this preacher: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AChLeNC4jns) !!! ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-and-response-a-black-church-phenomenon/735960/24 "2015-11-01T22:47:48Z")
The ‘mirror’ structure of Hebrew psalms renders it probable that the antiphonal method was present in the services of the ancient Israelites. According to the historian Socrates of Constantinople, antiphony was introduced into Christian worship by Ignatius of Antioch (died 107), who saw a vision of two choirs of angels.[3] Antiphons have remained an integral part of the worship in the Byzantine and Armenian Rite.[4] The practice was not found in the Latin Church until more than two centuries later. Ambrose and Gregory the Great, who are known for their contributions to the formulation of Gregorian chant, are credited with ‘antiphonaries’, collections of works suitable for antiphon, which are still used in the Roman Catholic Church today.[5] I think its a common form in ALL “folk” song … Its just the basic thing to do ? WHat does John hunt ? John hunts the deer. What does John hunt with ? John hunts with the spear. ---
**Author:** ![bb49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-and-response-a-black-church-phenomenon/735960/25 "2015-11-02T03:46:01Z")
Pardon my ignorance, as I mean no disrespect, but the OP states that he goes to a white church. What does this mean exactly? Why is it a white church? Are there no coloured people permitted? And do the same rules apply to black churches? It’s along time since I’ve been in a church other than for weddings and funerals, but I don’t seem to recall any segregation. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-and-response-a-black-church-phenomenon/735960/26 "2015-11-02T11:00:42Z")
He simply means that all or most of the congregation are white. In the US, it’s illegal to discriminate by race. Churches do tend to self-segregate, simply because people do that. Walk into any Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and chances are the congregation will be all or mostly black. Chances are also great that you’ll hear the best gospel music in town, and you’ll be warmly welcomed by all regardless of your skin color, if you act in earnest (or even if you’re just there to hear the music.) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-and-response-a-black-church-phenomenon/735960/27 "2015-11-02T11:07:28Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > He simply means that all or most of the congregation are white. In the US, it’s illegal to discriminate by race. I agree that all “white church” means is that the attendees are predominantly white, but I don’t think it’s illegal for a church to have racially discriminatory policies on who may attend. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-and-response-a-black-church-phenomenon/735960.md?page=1)