President Obama to Visit Historically Black South Carolina College
President Obama plans to visit Benedict College on Friday, March 6th. White House officials stated, “The President will travel to Columbia, South Carolina to hold an event at Benedict College with students and youth leaders.” The visit will mark the first time President Obama has visited the Palmetto State as POTUS.
The President may or may not be aware that while Benedict College is a relatively small college and unknown around the nation, there is one area in which the South Carolina College has dominated for more than a decade. The Benedict Gospel Choir has held the rank of #1 Gospel Choir in the nation for most of the past 10 years. The talented singers have taken their talents to places like Rome, Italy, Ghana, West Africa, and Heidelberg, Germany.
The group even collaborated with South Carolina natives and Grammy winners Hootie and the Blowfish, on the hit song Hold My Hand, back in 2010. Below is a short video example of not only the singing talent on display at Benedict College but also the spirit of compassion and concern for their fellow man.
Whatever the intent of the Presidents’ trip, he should count himself lucky if this award winning choir sings even one song during his visit. It would be something he would likely not soon forget and something that all of South Carolina should share with pride. There may be other historically black colleges in the state currently facing financial difficulties and shame…but Benedict College stands out as a testament of what hard work and dedication can achieve and maintain.
