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4 - DECEMBER 2000/JANUARY 2001 MBCWO - 63 Years Of Communications - HBCUs Making The Connection In The 21st Century. Morris Brown Players Premiere Masterful Convergence Of The African-American Experience In Tracing Roots by Dashanaba King PROFESSOR - HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT ATLANTA - In a stunning two-show, standing room only performance, the new 10 mem ber cast of The Morris Brown Players premiered the Fall 2000 season with an original work TRACING ROOTS. The work was conceived and direc ted by producer, professor, actor and poet laureate E. Lloyd Napier, and present ed by the Humanities Depart ment of Morris Brown College. The production was a medley of poems, essays, scenes and dramatic monologues intri cately woven into a humorous and colorful mix of memories, metaphors and lowdown par ticulars of Black life. From the casts’ opening rendition of “The Creation” by James Weldon Johnson to the ending act of Kephra Burns’ soliloquy “Essence” brilliantly played by Janelle Henderson, The Players elicited a range of emotions to a full house of responsive student viewers. While the show was devoid of lighting and a theatrical set, the cast seemed to glide right along in character, using all manner of makeshift sets and stage props. In addi tion to noted works by artists Nikki Giovanni, “This Has Nothing To Do With You”, Ntozake Shange “Eli”, and Saul Williams “Blind”, the audience was exposed to some original pieces written by Napier himself. The pieces “Strange Fruit” and “Dust Tracks”, written by A. ‘Afro- pick’ McDowell, were also included. “Lady In Blue” unmasked by Bih Fobi, was a master stroke of irony, depicting a relationship gone bad—where one woman wants no more ‘stories’, and will accept no more being sorry and apolo gies from her man. The songs and moans in “Go Down Death” as part of the riveting ‘Hallelujah To God Be The Glory’ church scene, was quite revealing as many in the audience, through gesture and sound, divulged signs of their roots tracing back to the Black Church. Perhaps the most emotional performances of all came with the believable blind man’s dramatization captured by Donnell Morgan, and the all-' too-familiar reality of the scene from “A Song For My Mothers”, played by George Yeomans, where candles were lit and names called in memo ry of all people who have suc cumbed to the insidious disease, AIDS. Serious and realistic, yet full of humor and laughter, the theatrical collage TRAC ING ROOTS, portrays vivid messages on life, love, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Viewers were moved to reflect on their obvious connections to aspects of African Ameri can concepts. Cast members included Charmaine Smith, Shenika Gaines, A. “Afropick” McDowell, George Yeomans, Toni Hicks, Donnell Morgan, Janelle Henderson, Myra Fobi, Marquitta Bradley and Destiny Middlebrooks. by Natasha Marshall STAFF WRITER Welcome Reception Held in the Legal Studies Department The 2000-2001 Legal Studies Bar Association here at Morris Brown College held their first event for the year. On Wednes day, November 8, 2000, the Bar Association held a Welcome Reception for new arid returning students in the Legal Studies Department. Throughout the program the Bar Association officers were, announced along with other programs that will be held in the Legal Studies Department. The Welcome Recep tion also gave students the chance to relax and socialize with each other. AsaHilliard Conducts Staff Development Workshop for MBC Trio Programs! by Shawnna Hayes-Tavares STAFF WRITER Renowned Egyptologist, Author and Calloway Professor of Ur ban Studies at Georgia State University conducted a workshop for the TRIO Programs’ employees on “Effective Strategies and Techniques for Teaching and Counseling.” Dr. Asa Hilliard who has spent 20 plus years linking the motherland with people of color in the United States exchanged dialogue, gave a presenta tion and lectured on the importance of connecting tft.,pur youth through “Expressions of Love”. During Dr. Hilliard’s presentation, he showed evidence that children from African descent can learn even when their environ ment is surrounded with poverty and degradation, if those child ren are taught with Africentric values. Dr. Hilliard shared valu able methods to enhance TRIO employees’ knowledge and under standing that will be beneficial when dealing with our partici pants. He said that if we build character, create bonds and know how to connect education to spirituality as some of our African counterparts do, it will help to create an environment that will be conducive for learning. He also said that by concentrating on the relationship with our students rather than the teaching, we will allow our students to express themselves and to develop naturally. Dr. Hilliard also shared some African traditions on teaching, he gave examples of nations in Africa that trained teachers for 30 years. By doing this those teachers are able to be trained in several aspects of not only teaching, but culture and history as well. They were taught love of self, love of student and patience that helps build bonds and the nation. He said by doing this we create “Expressions of Love”, these expressions consist of listening, sharing, questioning, feedback and modeling. Dr. Hilliard was later joined by Morris Brown’s illustrious president Dr. Delores Cross. Dr. Cross’ presentation spoke to having a base and determining our own destiny. Dr. Cross read exerts from her book, she shared her story about her need to con tinue the race. She said that she saw herself as a runaway slave charged with the responsibility as a black woman to continue the race and that running a marathon was a way of life for her. Together Dr. Hilliard and Dr. Cross celebrate over 50 years of experience educating children. The TRIO staff members were able to benefit from their knowledge. The workshop concluded with a question/answer portion, TRIO employees had concerns about bridging the gap between generations to better help our students. Both Dr. Cross and Dr. Hilliard gave valuable informa tion to the staff. The TRIO Programs employees learned not only from Dr. Hilliard and Dr. Cross, but from themselves as well. MBC Upward Bound-Atlanta Program Goes to Washington D.C. and New York City by Gregory W. Carter, MA EDUCATIONAL COUNSELOR UB-A uring the week of July 16-21, 2000, the Morris Brown College Upward Bound-Atlanta Pro gram took their Cultural Edu cational Trip to New York and Washington D.C. Excited students and caring adults met in Jordan Hall on Sunday around 5:00 p.m. After check ing everyone in and listening to Mr. Kings’ farewell speech we boarded the buses about 8:00 p.m. It took two buses, we were separated by gender, Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Wilson were in charge of bus one with the young ladies, and Mr. Carter and Mr. Thigpen were in charge of bus two with the young men, then we headed down the highway for Washington D.C. We arrived in D.C. about 7:00 a.m. Monday, stopping at a truck-stop which had showers and video games. We partook upon some social hygiene, some even used the public showers. Thereafter we got in line in the cafeteria to enjoy the breakfast buffet which consisted of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, grits, hash browns, french-toast, and fresh fruit. At the conclusion of the wonderful breakfast, we boarded the bus to begin our tour of the U.S. Capitol. Our first stop was the Smithsonian Institute, which was very informative and enlightening. Later we went to the Capitol where we were greeted by U.S. Congressman of Georgia John Lewis, who spoke to us about his involve ment in the Civil Rights struggle as well as his rise in politics. We then proceeded to the steps of the Capitol where we took group pictures with the Congressman. At 1:00 p.m. we were sched uled for lunch and a tour of Howard University. We met with a Graduate student at the University who gave us all the history of the HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). After lunch we toured the city and saw the Department of Treasury, the Department of Agricul ture, and the Department of Transportation. After din ner we got back on the high way and headed for the hotel in New Jersey. We stayed at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Seacaucus - once we got checked in and everyone received their keys, we all went to our rooms, and rested from the long, yet eventful day. On Tuesday morning, July 18, we boarded the buses to begin our tour of New York City. Our first stop was the Schomburg Center for Re search in Black Culture— which traces its origin to two seminal events during the Harlem Renaissance. We were divided into our assign ed groups and went to lunch at Mama’s Soul Food in Har lem where the food was excel lent. After-lunch we went to the Apollo Theatre - which looks much smaller in real life, than it does on T.V. Several students participated in a mock “Showtime” at the Apollo and showed off their impressive talents. After the great time at the Apollo Theatre, we went down to the South Street Sea Port, where everyone got a chance to shop at the many stores, walk around and tour the area. Mr. Carter and Ms. Griffin ordered 20 large New York pizza’s for everyone’s dinner. After we ate and cleaned our area in the park we headed back or the hotel. Once at the hotel we met in a large room and discussed the events of the day. Around 11:00 p.m. we went to our rooms to sleep and prepare for the next day of adventure. On Wednesday, July 19, we boarded the buses around 8:00 a.m., had a fight Conti nental Breakfast, then began our day with a tour of Colum bia University’s Campus. Three students from Colum bia were our tour guides and the tour was very informative, we also learned that they have an Upward Bound Pro gram on their campus. Because of timing conflicts we did not get a chance to see the Abyssinian Baptist Church. After a wonderful lunch we toured the city of New York (Central Park, Harlem, Man hattan, Greenwich Village, the Garment District, and Broadway). The city is ex tremely crowded and very busy, the advertisements (everything from toothpaste to underwear) were so large it made the city seem larger than life. After dinner we saw a mag nificent Broadway play enti tled “Swing” it was fabulous. At the conclusion of the play we returned to the hotel to discuss the day and wrap up the final night. That Thursday morning, July 20, we gathered our belongings and checked out of the hotel. We stopped at Roy Rogers in New Jersey for breakfast before heading to Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park. We broke up into our assigned groups and spent a fun-filled day riding roller coasters, eating funnel cakes, pizza and ice cream. At 8:00 p.m. we presented the bus drivers with a token of our appreciation, then boarded the buses for our journey back to dear ole Morris Brown College. We arrived back at the school four hours earlier than we had anticipated, therefore when we crossed the Georgia state fine students called their parents to pick them up at 2:00 p.m. instead of 6. The parents were there to receive their children and everyone went home with wonderful memories of the past week. It was indeed a “Trip to Remember”.