Let America Be America Again
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Two years ago, I devised a short play in collaboration with the middle schoolers I was working with during a theater residency in Trenton, NJ. The performance was to be centered around the poem by Langston Hughes titled "Let America Be America Again." A large part of the script was taken directly from the poem with writing from the students woven in to amplify their voices and be able to tell their individual American tales. The full text of the poem can be found here. Sadly, the play was shelved two weeks away from our "Final Share Day." I was told it was too much for them and they wouldn't be able to handle it. The kids didn't tell me this. The teachers/administrators who organized the residency did... On the morning of the last day of my residency, I got a call just as I was leaving the house and was told not to come in. My services we no longer needed. On. The. last. Day. I was crushed. And I never got to hear the words that my students wrote during our time together. But I believe everything happens for a reason. To be honest, I don't think the administrators wanted to hear about the struggles and the racial disparities that these kids faced at home and at school. If you read the poem, you can see how at that time it could cause a stir, never mind the fact that they were the ones who gave me the poem to use. But that's neither here nor there. This piece was obviously ahead of its time. And the right time is NOW.
I'm asking for 500 people to join me on my mission to bring this script back to life as a short film by donating $20. Help me raise the voices of those of us who were silenced from telling our truths.
That brings the fundraiser goal amount to $10,000. Of which, two $1,000 scholarships will be donated to 2 minority college bound students from the high school graduating class of 2020; one from Kent Roosevelt High School in my hometown of Kent, OH and the other from Great Oaks Charter School in my current hometown of Newark, NJ. The rest of the funds will be used to finance the making of the short film.
Henry Matisse said, "Creativity takes courage," and the support from all of you gives me that strength. We need each other now more than ever. I am truly grateful for each of you & your contribution. More to come so be sure to check back for updates!
Peace Be With You,
Aaliyah
Two years ago, I devised a short play in collaboration with the middle schoolers I was working with during a theater residency in Trenton, NJ. The performance was to be centered around the poem by Langston Hughes titled "Let America Be America Again." A large part of the script was taken directly from the poem with writing from the students woven in to amplify their voices and be able to tell their individual American tales. The full text of the poem can be found here. Sadly, the play was shelved two weeks away from our "Final Share Day." I was told it was too much for them and they wouldn't be able to handle it. The kids didn't tell me this. The teachers/administrators who organized the residency did... On the morning of the last day of my residency, I got a call just as I was leaving the house and was told not to come in. My services we no longer needed. On. The. last. Day. I was crushed. And I never got to hear the words that my students wrote during our time together. But I believe everything happens for a reason. To be honest, I don't think the administrators wanted to hear about the struggles and the racial disparities that these kids faced at home and at school. If you read the poem, you can see how at that time it could cause a stir, never mind the fact that they were the ones who gave me the poem to use. But that's neither here nor there. This piece was obviously ahead of its time. And the right time is NOW.
I'm asking for 500 people to join me on my mission to bring this script back to life as a short film by donating $20. Help me raise the voices of those of us who were silenced from telling our truths.
That brings the fundraiser goal amount to $10,000. Of which, two $1,000 scholarships will be donated to 2 minority college bound students from the high school graduating class of 2020; one from Kent Roosevelt High School in my hometown of Kent, OH and the other from Great Oaks Charter School in my current hometown of Newark, NJ. The rest of the funds will be used to finance the making of the short film.
Henry Matisse said, "Creativity takes courage," and the support from all of you gives me that strength. We need each other now more than ever. I am truly grateful for each of you & your contribution. More to come so be sure to check back for updates!
Peace Be With You,
Aaliyah
Organizer
Aaliyah Habeeb
Organizer
Newark, NJ
