Calling all students! Paul Robeson’s birthday party celebration performances and art requested
A celebration of Paul Robeson’s April 9, 1898 birthday
April 9, 2016.
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Southside Commons in Columbia City
3518 S Edmonds St., Seattle
A Seattle teacher who is committed to his students and his community is supporting this event and shared it with me recently.
The Mother’s For Police Accountability have organized a birthday party for Paul Robeson. The intent is to energize youth to effect political action through the arts.
As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will always speak for peace, and no one can silence me in this.
According to the flyer:
In celebration of Paul Robeson’s April 9, 1898 birthday there will be an event from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Southside Commons in Columbia City, 3518 S Edmonds St., Seattle WA on April 9, 2016.
Youth are invited to create performance and visual art which meet the criteria of entry in the birthday celebration of Paul Robeson which will include fine arts performances, as well as, video and visual art.
The theme of the event is focused on achieving political action through the arts. For instance, the political action due to the adversity faced by an individual or groups due to their individuality, circumstances or cultural, religious, ethnic/racial association. General topic examples include: School to Prison Pipeline, Police Accountability, Hidden Genocidal Crimes, Preserving History Otherwise Dismissed in Textbooks, etc.
The categories are: Visual Art, Music/Song, Oratory, Poem/Rap/Spoken Word and Skit.
$100 will be awarded to each of the five entrants chosen for each of the categories.
Submission Rules:
1)The contestants choose a subject and category from the five listed modes of communication.
2) Record a video of the performance and send it, or a video explaining your picture/visual art work to PO Box 22886, Seattle Wa. 98122 by April 1
3) Notification of award winners will be by April 4.
4) Those selected will perform at the main event of the Paul Robeson Birthday Party on April 9
5) All other entrants will have their art exhibited in the hall throughout the event. Audio/video devices will be used to showcase all the videos submitted by all the entrants.
All entrants will be able to perform before the main event between 1 PM and 3 PM.
Graphic and video art will be displayed before, during, and after the event.
The main program starts at 3:00 PM. The five chosen acts will be part of this program.
A video of each entrants performance must be submitted by April 1, 2016 (Please include return email and/or phone #).
Those participants chosen for the main event will be notified on Monday April 4, 2016.
Please send videos to: MFPA, PO Box 22886, Seattle WA 98122
Sponsored by Mother’s for Police Accountability and Fresh Air Educational Consulting.
Contact information (206) 351-2435
About Paul Robeson:
Paul Robeson did not believe in models and Icons, “he did not worship heroes but rather the wisdom and knowledge of the ways of men.” He drew on his inner spirit for the strength and courage to strive for excellence. His dilemma was how to best elevate the Black American culture.
In films Paul was able to eventually gain control of the scripts to fulfill his goal of “depicting the Negro as he really is, not the caricature he is always represented to be on the screen.”
Paul’s mother died in an accidental fire and he was raised by his father, the Reverend William Drew, the son of an escaped slave who became a preacher and human rights activist. It was under the tutelage of the Reverend Drew that Paul developed his determination for excellence. In the face of extreme Jim Crow hatred and racism Paul Calling all students! Paul Robeson’s birthday party celebration performances and art requested | Seattle Education: