Staged Readings in Charlotte: "for black boys....."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Alicia Benjamin / aliciamichelebenjamin@gmail.com

Presenting

for black boys who have considered homicide

when the streets were too much

(Staged Readings)

Charlotte, N.C. — Come experience young Black men reveal how they see themselves, in contrast to how many others see them – as violent, angry men who are not to be trusted, and in some cases – destroyed — in the staged reading of the play, for black boys who have considered homicide when the streets were too much by Keith Antar Mason.

The readings, scheduled to be held in Charlotte on Saturday, January 25, 2:30 p.m. at the Francis Auditorium, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library (Main Branch), April 2014 (date to be announced soon) at The Arts Factory, Black Box Theater, Johnson C. Smith University, will feature actors Que'Orris Brion, Octavius Boozier, and Arthur Miller. The readings are directed by Alicia Benjamin.

for black boys who have considered homicide when the streets were too much reveals how many people in our society see African American boys and men – as violent, angry people to be afraid of. The play goes on the show how African American boys and men see themselves – as fully realized and complex people who hurt, love, and feel – just like everybody else.

“We are dedicating these performances to young African American men like Trayvon Martin (17), Oscar Grant (22), Sean Bell (23), and Jonathan Ferrell (24), who were all killed either by police officers or someone in authority,” Benjamin said.

“This is the perfect time for people to hear the words that Mr. Mason has so eloquently written about the complex and sometimes fragile lives of many of our young black men.”

The play is comprised of some realistic and some stylized poetic sections that offer a gripping and emotional portrait of the many facets of young black male life in America.

“for black boys….” is a cathartic journey through the box of anger, fear, injustice, hyper masculinity and aggression that many black men find themselves in,” Benjamin said.  “But there’s a ray of love and a sense of perseverance that peaks through the play also. This is a powerful work with fully realized characters that shine a light on the psychology of many of our young black men.”

 Mason writes in the piece:

“The male gender, cursed and colored black, and too damn aggressive just by bein’ born.”

 “Somehow i know, i wuz' born to die, to die too soon.”

This powerful play is as relevant today as it was when Mr. Mason wrote the piece more than 20 years ago.

Venue Locations:

The Arts Factory, Black Box Theater, Johnson C. Smith University, 1515 West Trade St.., Charlotte 28216

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library (Main Branch) – Francis Auditorium, 310 N. Tryon St., Charlotte 28202

Admission:

The Francis Auditorium (PLCMC – Main Branch) performance is FREE and open to the public.  

For more information contact:

Alicia Benjamin at aliciamichelebenjamin@gmail.com

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The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is not a sponsor, nor does it endorse any practices or points of view of this production.