Ritchie Hall, on 麻豆视频最新最全 University鈥檚 Kent Campus, will be 鈥渢he place to be鈥 for drama, fashion, history and music on the evening of Nov. 21.
Susie_King_TaylorThe events kick-off with 鈥淣ineteenth Century African Americans: Fashion, Spirituals and Conversation,鈥 that will provide a glimpse into the personal and social lives of African Americans from that era. 麻豆视频最新最全鈥檚 Department of Pan-African Studies and the School of Music have co-organized the event and dessert reception which will be held in the Uumbaji Gallery (134 Ritchie Hall) from 6 鈥 7 p.m.
Selected members of the Kent Gospel Choir, under the direction of its founder and director, Linda B. Walker, Ph.D., professor of music education, will perform spirituals (slave-era religious songs), including 鈥淛acob's Ladder鈥, 鈥淲ade in the Water鈥, 鈥淔ollow the Drinkin' Gourd鈥 and 鈥淕od鈥檚 Gonna Set This World on Fire鈥. Spirituals were a significant component of African American life in the 1800s.
Nineteenth Century African American fashion pieces will be on display in an exhibit, including some made by Denise Harrison, lecturer, Department of English and Pan-African Studies and some on loan from the School of Theatre and Dance. In addition, photographs of women wearing dresses from this era will be featured including one of Susie King Taylor, an African American author who was born enslaved and became a Union Army nurse during the Civil War and the first African American to teach openly in a school for former slaves in Georgia.
鈥淔ashion demonstrated social structure, but also a sense of stylistic expression of the time,鈥 Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D., chairperson of the Department of Pan-African Studies, said.
A conversation about the music and fashion of this time period will be led by George Garrison, Ph.D., professor, Department of Pan-African Studies. Garrison and Walker will intertwine the music with discussion taking the audience on a brief tour of the varied lives of African Americans during this era.
Immediately following the reception, 麻豆视频最新最全 University鈥檚 African Community Theatre (ACT) will preview its production of 鈥淣o Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs鈥 written by John Henry Redwood and directed by Terrence Spivey in Ritchie Hall (Room 230). The VIP premiere of the production will take place the following night on Nov. 22. Spivey recently joined 麻豆视频最新最全 for the 2013-14 academic year as its director-in-residence. Since 2003, he has been the artistic director of the Karamu House, a historic performing arts center in Cleveland. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 at the door. 麻豆视频最新最全 undergraduate students are admitted for free. The production runs through December 8 on the follow dates:
- Nov. 21-23, 2013: Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013: Doors open at 1:30 p.m.
- Dec. 6-7, 2013: Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013: Doors open at 1:30 p.m.
For more information about the ACT, visit: 丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.办别苍迟.别诲耻/颁础厂/笔础厂/肠辞尘尘耻苍颈迟测补苍诲补谤迟蝉/补蹿谤颈肠补苍-肠辞尘尘耻苍颈迟测-迟丑别补迟别谤鈥
Ritchie Hall is located at 225 Terrace Drive on the 麻豆视频最新最全 University, Kent campus. Parking is available at the rear of Ritchie Hall. Additional parking is available in the 麻豆视频最新最全 Student Center Visitor lot on Summit Street.
# # #
Photo Caption:
Susie King Taylor, an African American author was born enslaved and became a Union Army nurse during the Civil War and the first African American to teach openly in a school for former slaves in Georgia.
Media Contact:
Amoaba Gooden, Ph.D., agooden@kent.edu, 330-672-2300