Quick Performance Update (next two weeks):
Wed.,
Apr. 15 – Dana Middle School, AM, Hawthorne, CA (Betsy Costner Historic
Character Presentation)
Thurs., Apr. 16 – Anza Elementary School, AM & PM & Evening,
Hawothrne, CA (Oney Judge Historic
Character Presentation; General Storytelling Program & “Words of Excitement”
Evening Program for Parents)
Sat.,
Apr. 18 – Stone Soup Storytelling Festival New Voices Showcase, Woodruff, SC;
11:30 am – 1 pm
Mon.,
Apr. 20 - Performances for Rancho Solano School Student Tour Groups in Herndon,
VA, 7:30 – 8:30 pm
Thurs.,
Apr. 23 – Bobbitt Apartments, Norfolk, VA, 2 – 3 pm; General Adult Storytelling
Fri.,
Apr. 24 – “Audience Management” Professional Development Workshop for Young
Audiences of Virginia, Inc. Artists and others, Norfolk, VA; 10 am – 12 pm
Sat.,
Apr. 25 – Portsmouth Community Colored Library Museum, 521 Middle St.,
Portsmouth, VA; 1 pm & 3 pm (“Words of Excitement” Storytelling Program and
Workshop)
Apr. 25, 28 - Performances for Worldstrides, Inc. Student Tour Groups in Williamsburg, VA.
Other Apr. performances: Oregon (Corvallis)
Upcoming May
performances: California (Ojai, Fresno);
New York (Westchester County); VA (Fairfax, Norfolk, Williamsburg), West
Virginia (Shepherdstown)
You may have figured out that I am behind in
the A-Z Blogging Challenge 2015, but I am determined to at least finish all the
letters (although May might be my ending date).
Today don’t be taken aback by the title, enjoy!
I =
I Can be White
 |
| "Flower Girl" by Margaret Bowland see her website and other amazing pictures www.margaretbowland.com |
I arrived at the job opportunity dressed in a fine business
outfit and prepared to convince my two interviewers that I was the best for the
position. I went first to the lobby and
the receptionist informed the specific department’s secretary of my
arrival. The secretary came to retrieve
me and when she saw me, she greeted me and a small smile came across her
face. I caught it, but said nothing. I was taken to the large office where I would
be interviewed by two women – 1 white and 1 black. As I walked in and they stood up, I noted the
quick glance between the two of them, and the slight surprised smiles. I walked up, shook their hands, introduced
myself and said, boldly, “You thought I was white, didn’t you?” They both laughed and nodded their
heads. I continued, “Well, they tell me
I have a ‘white girl’ voice on the phone.”
I paused. “Think I can use that
as the new executive assistant for the department?” I got the job!
Since college I have often been told about my “white
girl’s” voice. What does that actually
mean? It means that I speak “proper”, not
with “ebonics” or in a “country” or “urban” style. Whatever!
Although I don’t get offended by the nomenclature, and it is said to me
by those who are African-American, it does make me wonder, why do we think
people who are from a particular area have to speak a certain way. On the other hand, I have seen how the voice
has fooled people and they have given me things because of the “voice” and
later been surprised when they met me face-to-face.
Okay, so I may talk “white”, but what about the question I
have sometimes been asked: “Can I play
someone of a different color?” My usual
answer: “If you do so with respect then
yes.” But folks rarely take on the
“risky” part. However, one day I did.
You see what happened was J: I was scheduled to be the keynote speaker,
presenting Ol’ Bess, for the New York’s Westchester Lower Hudson Council for Social Studies Conference. I arrived the evening before, but my luggage
did not arrive with me. [This was before I learned to keep my next
day’s clothes/costume in my carry-on bag.]
Not only did my luggage not arrive, but it wasn’t going to arrive until
I was ready to depart the next day AFTER my presentation would be
complete. Ugh!! After much thought, and some great
consultation with my colleague and Historic Character Presenter, Darci Tucker
and her husband, Terry Yemm, I decided to do my first part of the keynote
presentation with just my voice being heard over the speakers. Although, my contact person (and now friend),
Steve Goldberg, was a little leery about this, he consented. I also decided to do a second section of the
keynote speaker, representing a white teacher at Central High School, Little
Rock, Arkansas during its time of desegregation in 1957.
The next day came.
Steve said something like, “sometimes we need to listen to the voices of
the past”, and I began to sing in character and do my entire presentation over
microphone without my presence. I
couldn’t see the people inside the ballroom, but Steve said that they were
entranced – just listening, many with eyes closed. They laughed at all the right parts and
winced at the difficult lines; it was accepted splendidly, with many
compliments on the uniqueness of the style.
I walked in as I sang the last song, and no one even noticed, until, as
the applause was happening, I stepped to the front. Then I said, I wanted to present another
voice. I did my presentation with the
“voice” of a white teacher, seeing the outside mob and also despising to have
to teach “those black children”, until she hears it:
“Then I heard the mob scream, ‘Can’t you just send out
one? Just one.’ I understood what the mob meant. If only one was sent, they would string it up
and no other blacks would attempt to come.
I watched out the window, as did my colleagues and the few students in
the school, while “that child” sat in the furthest corner from us. And then one of the teachers said, ever so
softly, but with such conviction, ‘Can’t we just send them one?’ There was a silence and I was stunned….and
then mortified. What was happening? We were teachers! We were teachers! We were to protect those we taught. We were to teach them how to stand in times
of trouble, to develop their characters and give them wisdom for years to
come. We…..were….teachers! I turned to “that”…no, my student and we
locked eyes. I would be his teacher.”
After a great round of applause, several people came to me
and said, “You know I never saw your color.”
And “You really were white.” When
presenting a good story, sometimes I think, “What’s color got to do with it?”
 |
| Ellen Craft from Underground Railroad by William Still |
Okay, one more story to add. My friend and colleague, Sarah Brady, wanted
to do a program about women around the period of the Civil War era. She had the women she wanted to present, but
did not feel like she could do justice to this time period without also
presenting a slave. She was told clearly
that this would be inappropriate as she was white. She shared with me her quandary and I
immediately said, “Nonsense.” And I opened Underground
Railroad by William Still [a phenomenal primary source, that is completely
free online at, Underground Railroad by William Still] and
showed her the picture of Ellen Craft (per many laws, even 1/16th of portion of Negro blood made you a Negro). Well, of course, she
portrays her and shares her story and has been marvelous, changing the view of
what a slave looks like.
So, go on, share the story that needs to be shared – and do
it with respect. And when you see me
next, who knows what color I’ll be next!
Today’s Blog Question
– Please feel free to answer the question in the comments below.
What do you think of
portraying someone who is not of your culture, color or heritage? Would you be offended if you see someone
doing that? What about telling stories,
particularly folktales, from other cultures than your own? My personal feeling, tell everyone’s
folktales so that someone will remember, but also share from which culture it
comes.
What am I reading? Currently
reading “Passionate God” by Bishop Kenneth C Ulmer, Ph. D (my evening reading)
& “Revolution in World Missions” by K. P. Yohannan & “Angels Make Their
Hope Here” by Breena Clarke. Line from “Revolution”
that I had to share: “He [God] blesses us
for a purpose.”
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