Gospel singer lends voice to rally

Lois Snead will appear at a rally for a charter school whose application was refused, Marcus Garvey Academy.

By JON WILSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 27, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Lois Snead, an acclaimed gospel singer from St. Petersburg, will appear in concert today to help the Uhuru movement's campaign to establish Marcus Garvey Academy, a charter school.

"We want to give people the opportunity to show their solidarity with the effort," said Omali Yeshitela, chairman of the African People's Socialist Party and the Uhuru Movement leader.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus Activities Center, Sixth Avenue S and Second Street. Tickets are $12 at the door. For information, call 821-6620.

Snead leads a musical program that includes the Tampa Bay Mass Choir, the St. Petersburg-based Brothers of Harmony, and the Rev. Fleming Tarver and the Florida Spiritulaires.

Speakers will include St. Petersburg City Council member Frank Peterman, the Rev. Manuel Sykes of Bethel Community Baptist Church, USF St. Petersburg dean William Heller, Marcus Garvey Academy director Amina Camara and Yeshitela.

The Pinellas County School Board turned down the academy's charter school application on Feb. 8, saying the school would violate court-imposed racial ratios that public schools are required to follow.

The concert was planned before the School Board action, Yeshitela said, but will now serve as a rallying point to continue the charter school campaign.

Snead lives in Pennsylvania but was born in St. Petersburg. She attended Jordan Elementary School and 16th Street Junior High. After graduating from Gibbs High School, she went on to Southern Illinois University, majoring in music and public speaking.

She began singing at age 4 in churches throughout Florida, and at age 6 was performing with her cousins in a group, the Four Golden Stars. As an adult, she has performed with Stevie Wonder, the Rolling Stones, and such gospel stars as Alex Bradford, the Soul Stirrers and Albertina Walker.

Her CD, Somebody, hit the gospel charts last year, staying in the Top 30 for several months.

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