Whether you grew up in a Black Catholic church or have been attending one for many years, some cultural aspects are as universal as our faith.
It’s kente cloth on clergy vestments, turning out on Sundays for the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, and the hymns that transform Mass into a deep prayer of gratitude and hope with Jesus.
If you ask any Black Catholic or Christian to list their top spiritual songs, most lists would include “Amazing Grace” and “Total Praise.”
One of the most beloved hymns across American cultures, “Amazing Grace” was written in 1772 by John Newton, a former slave trader who became an abolitionist and Christian minister. While the musical melody we know came much later, in 1835, the hymn is embedded in American tradition, giving us hope that God’s grace is for everyone, even those who are lost or feel separated from God. The song has been featured on more than 1,000 albums and has been used throughout history as a song of hope, particularly during the Civil War and Vietnam War.
And then, of course, there is “Total Praise.”
Written in 1996 by the renowned gospel singer and composer Richard Smallwood, the song is an anthem for praising God in the midst of trials and difficult times. It serves as a reminder that, regardless of our pain, we can always turn to God for help.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Washington, Smallwood was a trailblazer for gospel music. He began to play music by ear at age 5 and formed his own gospel group by age 11. He graduated cum laude with a music degree from Howard University, where he was a member of the school’s first gospel group, the Celestials, and a founding member of the Howard Gospel Choir.
After college, he formed a large choir called Vision, which helped him with some of his largest gospel hits, including “Total Praise.” The song was inspired by Psalm 21, for its message of finding strength in God while enduring hardship.
In his 2019 book, “Total Praise: The Autobiography of Richard Smallwood,” he shares that the song was written while he was caring for his ailing mother, terminally ill godbrother, and facing emotional issues with his foster brother. Initially, he wanted to write a “pity party” song.
“I wanted to develop it musically into a song that asked for God’s help,” Smallwood wrote. “However, the more I worked on it, the more it kept going in the direction of a praise song.”
“Total Praise” has been performed by countless choirs, artists, gospel groups and bands throughout the world. It was even performed by the St. Augustine Gospel Choir for Pope Francis in Washington, during his papal visit to the United States in 2015.
While “Total Praise” has worldwide recognition, for Black Catholics it is a meditation song during Mass after Communion, a song of achievement at graduations, and one of grief at funerals. It is a song of celebration after overcoming a hard season of life and one you lean on when surrounded by despair.
For our culture, it is a song of strength, power and resilience, similar to “We Shall Overcome” during the Civil Rights Movement and “Amazing Grace” throughout our lives.
Smallwood died on Dec. 30 at age 77. As we celebrate his life and musical legacy, we give thanks to God for his incredible gift to the world and for giving the Black community another way to musically express both its pain and triumph. May “Total Praise” continue to move us through the challenging times that await us.
Samantha Smith is a writer who serves the Archdiocese of Atlanta as a communications strategist. Connect with Samantha by following her on Substack at “The Soulful Scene,” and on Medium.
