Dr. Timothy W. Holley: 'conversation about the presence of musicians of African descent couldn't come at a more appropriate time'

[John Blanke, Trumpeter in the Court of King Henry VIII, Westminster Tournament, 1511 (National Archives, United Kingdom)]

On July 25, 2010 AfriClassical posted: “This wealth of information should be mandated to be in the public school curriculums across the United States!” The title was taken from a comment by Carol Watford on July 24, 2010 in the Guest Book at AfriClassical.com:

Carol Watford

Saturday, 7/24/10, 7:39 PM “What a great and resourceful site. This wealth of information should be mandated to be in the public school curriculums across the United States!” From: New York City

AfriClassical remarked, in part: “Carol Watford makes an excellent point! We appreciate her post very much! Teachers and students should not have to rely on a website to learn that England's King Henry VIII employed John Blanke, a Black musician, as a Royal Trumpeter!”

On July 26, 2010 the post drew a comment from Dr. Timothy W. Holley, a cellist who is Assistant Professor of Music and Director, University Honors Program, at North Carolina Central University:

“Ms. Watford, The timing of such a large-scale conversation about the presence of musicians of African descent couldn't come at a more appropriate time...just as school boards are making decisions to cut the very programs that would directly inculcate this priceless information to the next generation!! Just think...if this generation doesn't get it because it isn't made available to them, the information could be lost to them...meaning that it could take as much as another half-century before a receptive generation receives and runs with this information!! The implications of the current situation (e.g., in the Detroit Public Schools presently) is grave indeed!! Thank you for your notice!!!