Avi’Yam Jordan
Staff Writer
From “mama” Africa to the new land of America, MADDRAMA took Jackson State University on a journey from slavery, civil rights and oppression to social justice on Sept. 17 during the annual Constitution Day celebration.
The Center for Student Engagement and Inclusion in the JSU Division of Academic and Student Affairs and MADDRAMA presented, “We Too Sing America” in celebration of this event and took the meaning of living black in America to a new level.
Constitution Day replaces what used to be called “Citizenship Day” via a law passed in 2004, which mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions and any school receiving federal funds provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution.
The performance, written and directed by Mark G. Henderson, speech communications chair and assistant professor, engaged the audience with artistic and elegant dance along with the performance of powerful messages and stories.
“Answer me, mama! Mama, where are you? Mama Africa, please speak to me! We are your children!” As a plea from the children to mother Africa, the performers begged for the acknowledgement of their African roots and culture. Portraying themselves as slaves who were stolen from their land, the departure from the motherland of Africa to America brought a new life in a new land.
Singing a song that gave hope, the performers led the audience in songs such as “I Don’t Believe He Brought Me This Far (To Leave Me)” and poems such as “I, Too, Sing America” which pays homage to the Harlem Renaissance writer Langston Hughes.
Providing knowledge about the history of early America and slavery, MADDRAMA gave mentions on Thomas Jefferson’s signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 40 percent population of the slaves in the south that were denied their independence as citizens.
Moving into the 18th Century, the audience gets introduced to the coming together of African-Americans and white Abolitionists and their refusal to celebrate the 4th of July with Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July.”
Bria King, a senior biology major from Jackson, Miss. and performer in the production said, “The performance has gotten me excited about joining MADDRAMA this year. I enjoyed seeing such talented people on stage.”
Taking the journey from Frederick Douglass to the Constitution, MADDRAMA gives a brief on three amendments that cater to the rights of Black Americans. The 13th Amendment which officially abolished and prohibits slavery, the 14th Amendment which declared citizenship to all those born on American land including Blacks and lastly, the 15th Amendment which prohibited each government in the United State from denying any citizen the right to vote based on race, color or previous condition of servitude.
Creating a scene for all of those who suffered, bled and died for justice, MADDRAMA told the stories of Emmett Till, Medgar Evers, civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, the four little girls from Birmingham and the recent deaths of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis.
Ending the journey with the final act, “Free at last! Or are we?”, scenes of the trials and triumphs of black Americans who have not given up hope on the fight for social justice and liberty left the audience with hope for the future.
“The show was amazing. It truly showed the history of African-Americans in America. I believed that it did an excellent job at reaching and teaching the student body. It showed the challenges of African-Americans and how those challenges make them just as American as anyone else,” said SGA president Keonte Turner, a senior biology major from Ben Harbor, Mich.
Guy King contributed to the story.
Be First to Comment