Young Americans: The Performance

I headed on over to the Anderson Center this weekend for Young Americans: The Performance. Andre Minkins has written a play, which he also directed over the weekend, inspired by the photographs of Sheila Pree Bright. The play was performed by WSSU and high school students as well as adult volunteers. It was so heartening to see members of our community working with local students to elaborate and expand upon work from a nationally renown artist.

Another great feature of the matinee performance was the collaborative effort of a few key community organizations to get the news out there and show their relevance to the project. The performance Young Americans was not only inspired by the exhibit but also the writings of students involved with Authoring Action, a youth authors institute cofounded by Nathan Ross Freeman and Lynn Rhoades. StoryLine was also out showcasing the bus and providing support for the event. And of course, Diggs Gallery's exhibit served as inspiration.

I haven't had a chance to check out the exhibit yet at Diggs but from the few photographs I've seen, it seems to portray a subtly strong message that America's youth are mature in their expression of who they are and understand well their relationship to America, however varied it may be from young person to young person. The actors in Young Americans: The Performance seem to have also better shaped their understanding of what America is, and will be, as they become adult leaders.