Established in 1976 as part of App State’s Black Expo Week, the choir was formed by retired App State Chief Diversity
Officer Dr. Willie Fleming ’80 ’84, who was a first-year student at the time, along with his friends and App State alumni
Daisy Logan Hoyle ’77 and Daryll Howell ’78. They wanted to help inform the campus community about African
American cultural traditions during a strained time in American history, Fleming said.
“When my class came to App State, we came with an energy of celebration,” said
Fleming. “We formed the choir with a purpose, to show the App State
Community that we belong here. We bring something to the table and we
want to show you our culture. That is what Black History Month is about today
— celebrating and showcasing who we are as a culture.”
