Young, Gifted, & Black 2023

Online Program

Theme: A Love Letter to Black Culture

Monday, Feb. 27th @ 7:30p.m., Reinhardt University Black Box Theater

Presented By Reinhardt University AASOPA

Directed & Produced by Judah D. Norman, Jalyn Bentley, and Aminata Jalloh

Director's Note

"Young, Gifted, and Black" (formerly called the "Black History Showcase") aims to unite Black students and alumni from across the African diaspora each February in a theatrical production that will both pay homage to our heritage and give Black artists and creators a chance to showcase themselves. The updated title is in honor of Lorraine Hansberry, the Black playwright who originally coined the phrase. We begin meeting in September and October of each year and are open to all interested Afro-descendants, whether it be through music, dance, acting, instrumentalism, poetry, live art, drag, fashion, promoting a Black-owned business, or any other expression. This year's theme is all about celebrating Black Culture, and we sincerely hope you enjoy tonight's production!

Cast & Crew

Judah D. Norman*, Jalyn Bentley*, Aminata Jalloh, Avanni Cherie*, Chris Cook*, Jamorad Keith*, Alecks Lewis, DeAndre Brown* (piano), Madeline Ross (crew), Olivia Adams (tech), Percy Ware (tech)

*An asterisk indicates seniors

Featured Black Businesses

"Cha$ing My Dreams" by Wesley Price - My clothing business represents a lifestyle more than it is a brand. Fear can paralyze people or keep them stagnant, so our goal is to encourage others to follow their passion.

"Crochet Creations" by Tyler Bentley - I run a Black- and-Queer-owned crochet business and make fluffy hats, small purses, scarves, and more! I like to have fun with colors and patterns and I’m always experimenting.

Act 1

Introduction

(Judah Norman)

Dance: "Where the Party At" - Jagged Edge

(Everyone)

Song: "Think" - Aretha Franklin

(Judah Norman)

Poem: "And Still I Rise" - Maya Angelou

(Jalyn Bentley)

Poem: "Africa my Africa" - David L.M. Diop

(Judah Norman)

Dance: "He Lives in You" - The Lion King II

(Judah Norman and Avanni Cherie)

Song: "At Last" - Etta James

(Jalyn Bentley, ft. DeAndre Brown on piano)

Song: "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever" - Maxwell

(Chris Cook)

Drag: "Shut Up and Drive" - Rihanna

(Content Warning: A Little Bit Sensual at Times)

(Alecks Lewis)

Dance: "Run the World" - Beyonce

(Jalyn Bentley, Avanni Cherie, and Judah Norman)

Act 2

Words from Our People: A Quote & Poetry Montage

(Everyone)

Song: "Can We Talk" - Tevin Campbell

(Jamorad Keith, Jalyn Bentley, Judah

Norman, Avanni Cherie, and Chris Cook)

Song: "Guess Who I Saw Today" - Nancy Wilson

(Judah Norman, ft. DeAndre Brown on piano)

Song: "Home" - The Wiz

(Avanni Cherie)

Song: "Moving Foward" - Broadbend, Arkansas

(Content Warning: References to Police Brutality)

(Aminata Jalloh, ft. DeAndre Brown on piano)

Song: "The Color Purple" - The Color Purple

(Everyone, ft. DeAndre Brown on piano)

Black National Anthem:

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" - James W. Johnson

(Everyone, ft. DeAndre Brown on piano)

Soul Train Line Finale:

"Let’s Groove" - Earth, Wind, & Fire

(Everyone)

The African American

National Anthem

In the 1900s during the post-Civil War & reconstruction era, a man named James Weldon Johnson was originally tasked with creating a poem for Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday. Instead, he was moved to make one about the pain, strength, and hope of Black people, which was later set to music by James’ brother, John Rosamond Johnson. The resulting song was first sung by the children’s choir of the then segregated Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida, and became the official anthem of the NAACP in 1919. For over a century, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has been an integral part of Black culture and has been sung at graduations, pageants, church services, Black History celebrations, African American organization meetings, and as of recently, even at major sporting events like NFL games. The Black National Anthem signifies Black identity, solidarity, and defiance. As stated by Reverend Virgil Wood after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, “We will not sing the anthem that has dishonored us, but we will sing the one that has honored us.”

"Lift Every Voice and Sing"

by James Weldon Johnson

Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun

Let us march on till victory is won.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,

Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who has by Thy might led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the

Places, Our God, where we met Thee;

Lest our hearts drunk with the

Wine of the world, we forget Thee;

Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand,

True to our GOD, true to our native land.

Additional Black Groups

to Support on Campus:

Black And Resilient (B.A.R.)

Reinhardt's Black Student Union strives to help foster the well-being and development of Black students by offering a space to express and address their needs, opinions, and concerns.

African Music & Dance Ensemble

This group is open to all who are interested. Participation will broaden your cultural and intellectual horizons while enhancing your world-mindedness and world-consciousness.

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