New Calvary Baptist Churchpresents

An African American History Month Premiere

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New Calvary Baptist Churchpresents

An African American History Month PremiereThe MAAFA Project: From Africa to America

Rev. Dr. Wm. MarcusSenior Pastor & Co-Author

Dr. Margaret BellDirector & Co-Author

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI am thankful to the New Calvary family as a whole for supporting this vision of Maafa, sharing this gift, and their tremendous faith that has been displayed. Their hard work, dedication, tireless effort, and beautiful spirits have made all of this possible. What we’ve learned in putting together this ministry is like all ministry efforts-- it takes the commitment and community to work together to be successful. THANK YOU to all of our sponsors and those who donated and gave to the ministry for this project. THANK YOU, Dr. Margaret Bell, for your commitment and hard work. From a simple conversation, you adopted the vision and got right to work and for that, I sing your praises! I am eternally grateful to the spirit of the ancestors who endured their experiences in the spirit of fortitude and continued to push so that the future would be better for us. This is their story, and as a result, our story and we should not be afraid to share it with the world. Most of all, I thank the true Executive Producer of this project, the Holy Spirit, for

using all of us to honor the legacy of our ancestors. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

MUSIC BYElder Willie Moody, Director & New Calvary Baptist Church Choir

DRUMSAKE-BU Land Ensemble – John Robinson, Ron Prescott, Felix Valderama, Oba Mustapha

SET DESIGNDouglas Pope (Set Designer), Columbus Grant, Jr., George Cooper, Arthur Simmons

DIRECTOR’S ASSISTANTSara Curry

PRESS AGENTKelli Davis, The KBD Group

GRAPHIC DESIGNER & PLAYBILL DESIGNTara B. Haynes, TB Designs

PHOTOGRAPHERLecretia Truesdale, Myavision Photography

BOX OFFICE MANAGERSMonique Adams and Eva Lyons

SPONSOR COORDINATORInez Cox

MAAFA

The term Maafa is a Swahili term which means “tragedy, terrible occurrence or great disaster.” The Maafa is used to describe the atrocities that have been experienced during the African Holocaust during the Arab and Atlantic slave trades as well as the residual effects of imperialism, colonialism and oppressive systems that still exist today.

Originally used by Dr. Marimba Ani in her book, “Let the Circle Be Unbroken: The Implications of African Spirituality in the Diaspora,” the Maafa was used to contextualize the journey of Africans into the Western Hemisphere to give their story its own particular place in history apart from other groups that have endured their own tragedies.

In 1995, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, who was the Pastor of Saint Paul’s Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York had a vision to help African Americans understand the deeper story of their history and struggle as well as heal from the pains and systemic issues that come through our experience. Using drama as the vehicle, Dr. Youngblood presented The MAAFA Suite, a dramatization of African American stories and experiences presented through the medium of “psycho-drama” where the audience would not just see these events acted out on stage but also be able to connect and experience what our ancestors experienced. Twenty years later, St. Paul’s Baptist Church continues to commemorate the Maafa with their yearly presentation.

The Maafa is a sharing and experiencing of stories about the African-American journey through the eyes of those who were a part of the historical events. It shares the good and the bad, the tragedies and triumphs, and the defeats and victories. Most of all, the Maafa shares with us the story of how God has seen us through as well as the strength of African people despite the challenges that have been faced. No two Maafa’s are alike as they can share stories from different regions of the country and experiences from different events in history with significant historical figures.

New Calvary’s presentation, The MAAFA Project: The Journey from Africa to America, looks to introduce Hampton Roads to the Maafa experience. This presentation is a compilation of stories that share the experiences of our ancestors who had to endure the harsh treatment of slave trade and chattel slavery, and the struggles of the jim crow and civil rights eras. We present this offering as a tribute to the ancestors who endured so that we could be here today, and we pray that in our efforts God is pleased with this ministry as we look to heal the wounds of our people, many of whom are still struggling with healing from this great tragedy. So whether your struggle is psychological, emotional, physical, mental or spiritual, LET THE HEALING BEGIN.

The Struggle Continues…

Scenes

Scene One“Olujimi (Given By God)”

Our scene begins in a West African village where a couple is preparing for the naming ceremony of their first child. The naming of a child is a considerable event in the life of a child because it gives a child purpose. The village comes to celebrate with the couple the blessing of new life to the village.

Scene Two“No Souls”

It is suggested by research that anywhere from 18 to 22 million Africans were transported and anywhere from 1 to 2 million Africans died during the middle passage. This scene deals with the journey of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade- the events and challenges that were experienced in the three month long journey to the Americas. The scene examines the rationale and justification by the oppressors to participate in human slavery, as well as the opinions and views that were expressed and believed about their African cargo.

Scene Three“Auction Block”

The auction block was one of the most psychologically traumatizing events that could have ever taken place in the life of enslaved Africans. Being bought and sold as property with no regard to family connection and personal preference. The dehumanization of the individual as well as the process of “Soul Murder” begins in the separation of the family unit and support system.

Scene Four“Life on the Plantation”

Life on the plantation could be a grueling experience. Although there were few large plantations throughout the south, here in Virginia plantations could be somewhat larger due to the fertile soil and processing of cotton and tobacco in what was called the “upper south” region. As property, many liberties were taken with slaves, especially with the women. Many Africans became influential in the houses they worked in and even raised their master’s children but were never, under any circumstances, considered equal.

Scene Five“Invisible Church”

The “Invisible institution” also known as church has always been a source of strength and empowerment in the journey of African-Americans. The church was initially used to keep slaves docile and obedient, but after understanding the story of Jesus and the journey of Moses and taking his people to the “promised land,” the theology of Africans began to take shape. Spirituals were often used as coded messages to inform Africans when escape attempts to the north were happening.

Scene Six“Escape/The Drinking Gourd”

During attempts of escape, “The Drinking Gourd” would be followed. The drinking gourd, also referred to as the Big Dipper, would be a guide to the north as a way of following the North Star. The journey to the north was an emotional task because you usually travelled with only the moon light to guide you and often times being hunted by men looking for escapees. Even for those who made it to the north, it was no guarantee that you would not be taken back to your plantation if you were captured, even after you made it to the north. Harriet Tubman was quoted as saying “I freed over one thousand slaves in my lifetime; I could have freed a thousand more if they had known they were slaves.”

Scene Seven“Freedom Comes with a Price”

The Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 started what many know as the Civil Rights Movement, but there were those fighting for freedom long before Martin Luther King Jr.’s name was nationally recognized. Many people who were involved in the movement for social and civil change were not famous but were actively engaged in transforming this country. Groups such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as well as The Black Panthers who marched, protested and demonstrated their way to let their voices be heard. They all understood the risks of speaking out.

Scene Eight“Education Now”

Education was one of the focuses of equality during the Civil Rights Movement. The goal was equal education for all. Here in the Hampton Roads area the Norfolk 17 were taught and educated at First Baptist Bute Street while schools were closed due to the attempt at desegregation. This scene is dedicated to all of those who have persevered for education in the Hampton Roads area and we honor them with this presentation.

Scene Nine“Who Cares?”

This final scene is a spoken word presentation that is meant to challenge the psyche and spirit of African Americans. We can no longer afford to be apathetic and care free with our future and our history. The call for all of us is to care and understand the journey that has brought us to this place in time.

Scenes

INTERMISSION

Cast

Brianna Hickman

Bridget Fortson

Byron L. Harris

Carlos Adams

Columbus Grant III

Donnell Davis

Robin Harris

Jerome JacksonErica Hickman

Greg Fordham

Inez Cox

Keith Grant

Pierre DiazTiffany Collins

Veronica Jackson

Michael Alston Mike Alston

Ciara Askew Javion BranchChaitoria Branch

Lauryn Anderson-DavisTamra Adams

William K. Collins

LaShonda Branch

Keasia Fortson

Leon Griffin

Brycelyn Foreman

Alvin Royster

Yvette Brown Moore

Brandon Foreman

Cast

Rhonda Wiggins

Barbara Schmidt

Adrianna Spivey

WARDROBEL-R – Karen Williams, Denise Reynolds, Eva Lyons, Eleanor Collins, Deitre Phillips, Bernice McGlone, Brittony Lyons (Makeup), Jackie Haskins, Frances Ferguson,

Linda Cole, Eunice Pope (missing Antonia Jackson)

Ann Wheeler

PROPSL-R – Rachel Humphrey, Madison Humphrey, Phyllis Johns,

Melody Grant, Brice Grant

Helen Singleton

Ronald WigginsElisabeth Wiggins

Phillip Sams

Lecretia Truesdale Mya Truesdale

Sanford Mack

Jamel Walker

Cornelia Spencer

Lawanda SpainJohrdan Spain Bill Spencer

Bruce Sams

Dwight Truesdale

Raven Jefferson Walter Jefferson

LIGHTING AND SOUNDL-R - Bruce Woods, Doc Christian, Harold Brown, Paul Chung

(missing Malcolm Small, Jonathan Pierce)

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The New Calvary Baptist Church family thanks all of our sponsors for their support and patronage. We also thank Norfolk Public School’s Booker T. Washington High School for your support.

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