POWER OF THE TONGUE
A Personal Message From Ge'ylah
Dear Instructor,
In the near future, I will perform a one – woman show honoring Black History Month . Please allow or request that your students attend the presentation. As a performance poet, it is my desire to uplift, inspire, and entertain through African- American poetry and through the spoken word.
Today’s college students, pursuing degrees ranging from the associate to the doctorate frequently feel as if the weight of the world is on their shoulders. Feeling at times defeated and misunderstood, they thirst for the impetus to keep going. The words that we say can speak life or death into the very essence of a person's soul. Power of the Tongue, is but one way to say to student, faculty & staffs all over America, " keep going , reflect on your heritage, never give up."
Continually, I am amazed at the responses I receive after performing poetry. Some of it has been around for decades, sitting, laying stagnated, immobilized and incarcerated in the pages of books seldom read. Today's generation must become acquainted or re-acquainted with our literary ancestors. They must internalize the contributions of Black empowerment.
I want to carry on the legacy of the oratorical greats. I want students to overflow with a renewed sense of pride, faith, and hope in themselves. I want them to reaffirm their goals. I want the tour to re-energize them and their love for African -American poetry.
Renowned poet & author, Haki Madhubuti, says, and I agree, "poetry is the jazz of Black language." The need for this language, our language, to be embedded in the minds, hearts and souls of today's youth is urgent. This tour promises to spark a new dawning of love, admiration, and respect for our poetic fore parents. Their works, their words, their struggle, their overcoming, and most importantly their vision should remain in the minds of the students who see and hear this tour long after their college years are over.
We all have a story to tell of something that someone has told us- something that has had a profound impact whether negative or positive. That's the point of the tour, to make an impact, a positive one. To have students internalize the words of poets, words that create, defy destruction, and even save lives. Whether it is the written, poetic word of yesterday, the spoken word of today, or the still in conception word of tomorrow, words have power, power to build up or tear down. Words have the power to determine life or death. " Speak the truth to the people." wrote the poet Mari Evans. POWER OF THE TONGUE, SPEAKS THE TRUTH, life - giving truth. It offers the words of poets past and present for today's generations and generations to come.
Ge'ylah
Power of the Tongue - Classroom Guide
Scope: "Power of the Tongue" is ideal for Lyceum requirements, Humanities, African-American Literature, History, Creative Writing, Third World Literature, Theatrical and other Liberal Arts Majors.
Synopsis: "Power of the Tongue" is an electrifying performance of classical African- American poetry, anchored in indispensable narration, entertaining music, and linked together with historical video footage. With a memorized repertoire of over fifty carefully selected poems, prose pieces and soliloquies. Ge'ylah has been referred to as a "poetic encyclopedia" and her deliverance of literary favorites has been referred to as a collaboration of spiritual and historical delight". Making the audience aware of the power that lies within the tongue and the awesome history of the spoken word, this dynamic performer is guaranteed to move an audience to the highest of emotions. Continuously cited for preserving the oral tradition, she utilizes the art of performance poetry to entertain, inspire and uplift audiences of all ethnicity's , compelling them to become more aware of their presence in this country and historical connection to Africa.
The Classroom Guide was created to provide instructors with a focal point for pre/ post Power of the Tongue" assignment or research. It is intended to ignite a plethora of dialogue. It is only the beginning to what should never end, a perpetual cycle of the exploration of African American literature and the history that inextricably binds us to it. The performance covers the time periods, Pre-Slavery (Africa), Slavery, Abolition, The Great Depression, The Harlem Renaissance, The Black Power/ Civil Rights Area , The Arrival of Hip-Hop and Current Burning Issues.
In this handy guide, you will find the complete list of my repertoire, relevant to the performance, as well as the authors. You will also find an array of questions (subjective, objective, and essay). The answers that I have included are very brief. However, you may want to expound in greater detail. It should be noted that although many of the poems in my repertoire are listed, I do not perform all of the poetry, during a single presentation. Otherwise, we would be at the show all night! Instead, certain pieces are used interchangeably to represent and reflect various time frames. For instance, during the " slavery" aspect of the performance, I might perform Frances Harper’s The Slave Mother: or George Horton's "Slavery" or Robert Hayden's Runagate, Runagate". rarely will I perform poems that show redundancy as it relates to historical periods. However, during every show, I make mention of, provide narratives and even go into great detail about most of the poets on the list.
Poets and Poetry
Alexander, Margaret W.: For My People
Angelou, Maya: And, Still I Rise, Phenomenal Woman
Burroughs, Margaret T. What Shall I Tell My Children Who Are Black
Bradford, Ge’ylah: The Homeless Man, I Pull From The Air,
The Power of the Tongue, The Day My Voice Comes Out,
Brooks, Gwendolyn: I Am A Black, Sisters, We Real Cool
Dunbar, Paul Lawrence: When Malindy Sings
Frost, Robert: The Road Less Traveled
Giovanni, Nikki Ego Tripping
Harper, Frances Watkins The slave Mother
Hayden, Robert Runagate, Runagate
Hughes, Langston: I Too, A Negro Speaks of Rivers, Mother to Son, Harlem
James Gwendolyn Duncan: Come Out Black Man
Johnson James Weldon: The Creation, The Judgment Day, The Crucifixion,
The Prodigal Son, Go Down Death
Kipling, Rudyard: If
King, Martin Luther Jr. I Have A Dream
Madhubuti, Haki Assassination
McKay, Claude If We Must Die
Randall, Dudley: W.E.B. and Booker T.
Sanchez, Sonia: Improvisations
Shields, Nichole L. Southern Hospitality #4
Wheatley, Phyllis Upon Being Brought From Africa to America
Power of the Tongue Questionnaire:
What is a "bit"? Why was it used? What was physical result of its' usage?
How did slaves pass down their literary customs and traditions?
For what reasons were the works of African writers condemned in the early colonial period?
Who was the first poet to ever document slavery through poetry?
What is the controversy in the poem "On Being Brought From Africa to America"? Who is the author?
What is the significance of Jupiter Hammonds' literary achievements?
On what occasion did Anglo-Saxon audiences refuse to attend the performance of Paul Lawrence Dunbar?
What major contribution did James Weldon Johnson make to Black History?
What is the name of the collection of adaptations that James Weldon Johnson wrote? Why did he write them? Name three of the prose pieces?
What is the essential argument in "W.E.B and Booker T."?
Name three poets who arose from the Black Power Movement Era? What type of poetry did they write?
Why does Margaret Walker Alexander celebrate the domestic worker in "For My People"
What is the significance of "Strange Fruit"?
What does the phrase "an inextricable bond between African- American literature and African- American history" mean?
What change did Black Power poets make in their poetry that was different from the writings of slave poets?
Who is Gwendolyn Brooks? What contributions did she make to literature?
After hearing the poem "I am A Black", what is the general meaning of the final line, ..." I am a Black, do not call me out of my name?”
To what groups is the author speaking in "Come Out Black Man"? why?
What elements are necessary to have a poetry slam?
Essay Questions ( Objective)
Write an essay of no less than one-page on the following questions.
Explicate the video clip "Roots" and how it is connected to the poem " Improvisations" by Sonia Sanchez.
Why does Margaret Walker Alexander celebrate the domestic worker in "For My People"
"The Power of the Tongue" has a dual meaning. Explain
Does "Power of the Tongue" change your view of African- American literature. Tell why or why not.
Give a brief synopsis of three time periods within Power of the Tongue
What is Hip- Hop Poetry? How did it come about?
Answers – (Essay questions are objective)
What is a "bit"? Why was it used? What was physical result of its' usage?
A specially manufactured steel mechanism made for a slaves mouth.
To prevent slaves from speaking their native language
The tongue was scarred or severed
How did slaves pass down their literary customs and traditions?
Orally
For what reasons were the works of African writers condemned in the early colonial period?
Lack of content, substance and format
Who was the first poet to ever document slavery through poetry?
Jupiter Hammond
What is the controversy in the poem "On Being brought from Africa to America"? Who is the author? Phyllis Wheatley
The controversy is that her some of writings appear to be proslavery. Yet, some of her writings appear to use proslavery inferences to mask anti- slavery concepts.
What is the significance of Jupiter Hammonds' literary achievements?
He was the first poet of African decent to document and publish his writings.
On what occasion did Anglo-Saxon audiences refuse to attend the performance of Paul Lawrence Dunbar?
When he performed in English and not in Negro Dialect
What major contribution did James Weldon Johnson make to Black History?
He wrote the "Negro National Anthem"
What is the name of the collection of adaptations that James Weldon Johnson wrote? Why did he write them? Name three of the prose pieces?
God's Trombones
They were his favorite church sermons:The Prodigal Son, Go Down Death, The Crucifixion, The Judgement Day, The Creation, Listen Lord - a- Prayer, Let My People Go
What is the essential argument in "W.E.B and Booker T."?
Attainment of Education Vs. Attainment of Skill & Wealth
Name three poets who arose from the Black Power Movement Era? What type of poetry did they write?
Haki Madhubuti, Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Mari Evans
What is the significance of "Strange Fruit"?
Anti - Lynching
What does the phrase "an inextricable bond between African- American literature and African- American history" mean?
The two are bound together. For the most part, writings of Blacks reflect the occurrences in African- American History.
What change did Black Power poets make in their poetry that was different from the writings of slave poets?
Their writings were direct and militant.
Who is Gwendolyn Brooks? What contributions did she make to literature?
The first Black poet laureate of Illinois
After hearing the poem "I am A Black", what is the general meaning of the final line, ..." I am a Black, do not call me out of my name?
The general meaning is to recognize the historical categorizing of Blacks and disallow it.
To what groups is the author speaking in "Come Out Black Man"? why?
Black men who are educated vs. jobless, unreachable and uneducated.
What elements are necessary to compete in a poetry slam?
Originality, time - limitations, and theme.
