Experience a moving cultural tribute honoring the endurance, resilience, and faith of enslaved African Americans. Presented through a curated mix of live spirituals, historical artwork, and selections from eight poignant slave narratives, this audiovisual presentation illuminates the power of song and story as tools of survival and hope.
Book this singing talk in 3 ways:
1. Talk only with audio-visual presentation
2. Talk with 1 spiritual performed by the speaker
3. Talk with 2 spirituals performed by the speaker
Cotton honors the African American experience during slavery and its indelible impact on history and most of all the plight of the descendants in a Prelude and 3 Acts. Through excellent research, Tanisha carefully crafts the words of slaves through themes matched with slave narratives and spirituals. This program is a perfect fit for Black History Month and Juneteenth.
ACT ONE: PAIN
Following a brief introduction of the impact of cotton on the US economy, Act 1 highlights slave children who witnessed their families torn apart and being auctioned to various masters for work. Spirituals include Motherless Child and I’m a Po’ Little Orphan in this World.
ACT TWO: RELIGION AND RESISTANCE
Religion played a pivotal role in keeping slaves submitted to their masters. However, it became a driving force to questions of being enslaved. This act delves into a slave named Uncle Silas who was a devout churchgoer and questioned his own deliverance from slavery as those in the Bible. Spirituals in this act include City Called Heaven.
ACT THREE: EMANCIPATION
In America, slaves created their own religion from what masters wanted them to believe to keep them subservient. Act 3 explores the motivation behind escaping from slavery and how spirituals became codes for escape. Spirituals highlighted in this act are: Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel and Deep River.
Five Memorable Quotes from the American Slave Experience
1. Talk only with audio-visual presentation
2. Talk with 1 spiritual performed by the speaker
3. Talk with 2 spirituals performed by the speaker
TANISHA’S PICKS: DVD’S, SOUND RECORDINGS & MORE
This opera talk features Tanisha’s favorite DVD's and recordings relevant to this talk. Click the link to purchase some of them for your own collection.
