Talladega College in Alabama, the oldest historically black liberal arts college in the state, is under fire for their decision to have the school's famed Tornado Marching Band perform at Donald Trump's inauguration later this month.
The Marching Tornados, as the band is known, will be one of half a dozen university marching bands to appear during the ceremony, along with a number of high school bands, police bands, and other groups. The college has so far refused to comment about their participation.
The fact that a band from a black college will be performing at the inauguration of a man with a long public record of racism dating back to the 1970s (and continuing throughout his presidential campaign and afterwards) has upset many observers, including alumni of the school.
“I don’t want my alma mater to give the appearance of supporting him,” Shirley Ferrill, a member of the Class of 1974, told CBS News. “Ignore, decline or whatever, but please don’t send our band out in our name to do that.”
Many people on social media had similar reactions.
Some people even had suggestions about appropriate repertoire for the gig.
