SOR Teleprompter
Beginning of Show
After Mother Africa
Before Follow The Drinking Gourd
After Follow the Drinking Gourd
Before Waverly Belmont Blues
After Waverly Belmont Blues
Before All Jazzed Up
After All Jazzed Up
Before We Shall Overcome
After We Shall Overcome
Before Free At Last
After Free At Last
Before the Parade of Superstars
1b ParkerWe are here today to celebrate the music of African Americans. It is not just the artistic expression of a group of people. It is the sound of tough people rising from the ashes of hardship.
1c EvaIt is the sound of roses shooting roots into concrete.It is the sound of resilience.
Poem: The Rose That Grew From Concrete - Tupac Shakur
reader: Charlie
1e Gavin
The story of the sound that changed the earth started where the world started. On the Continent of Africa.
Song 1: Mother Africa
2b CarterFirst to the east, into Asia it traveledThen to the north, into Europe it wentFinally, west, on a watery journeybecoming two American continents
2c EvelynBut when greatness returned home to AfricaShe came to make them slaves on plantationsShe came with chains for her distant cousinsto make them pick cotton, and build a young nation
2d EliThe history of the motherland was lost in the sea.The African cultures and rich history Stripped from them, like a rose, torn from it roots.replanted in Mississippi red clay like concrete
2e KySo they workedand they sangand sometimes they ran - to the north, to freedom.
2f SylviaFollow the Drinking Gourd was a work song withsecret instructions to look for the big dipper, and help fromPeg-Leg Joe, a conductor in the underground railroad.
Song 2: Follow the Drinking Gourd
soloists: Emauni (verse 1) London (verse 2)
3b GigiThe civil war was fought to make slavery illegalbut once all were free, they were light years from equal
3c CatherineLife was hard for Africans in AmericaWithout the protection of police or the courts that other Americans had,they were picked on, and preyed upon, by people in the dominant culture
3d TiffanyBut they continued to workAnd instead of just complaining,They turned their troubles into an art form called THE BLUES.
Song 3: The Waverly Belmont Blues
soloists: Anaiya, Owen, Gray, Natalie
4b DrewBut anyone that ever went through anything could relate to the blues. And that’s everyone.
4c TaylorThe Blues became a hit form of music throughout the country. Now, everyone was listening.
4d Jordynn“Give us more!” they seemed to say. African Americans replied, “OK, we’ll give you JAZZ!”
Song 4: All Jazzed Up
soloists: Zolly, Aiden
5b SybilPeople around the globe began to respect the sound of Black music, but the cries of black people for fair and equal treatment in America were still being ignored.
5c AnielaBy the 1950’s, fair-minded people had had enough. The civil rights movement was born. The movement could have been bloody and mean-spirited, like the civil war. But instead, it took a different tone. One song summed up its ideals more than any other - We Shall Overcome.
Song 5: We Shall Overcome
soloists: Cortaze (v2), Eve (v3), Gigi (v4)
6b McKynzieThat man was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His message of non-violent civil disobedience changed the nation. This song by Teresa Jennings was written to honor his legacy.
Song 6: Free At Last
soloists: Michael, Eli C, Jude, Eli S, Eliza, Lela, Liv, Regan
7b Trace It rang through the sounds of Rock and Roll
7c Trip It rang through the sounds of Motown Soul
7d Amelia It rang through the sounds of disco and funk
7e Gregory Providing a flashlight to see through the junk
7f Elijah The whole world was moved by the sound of Pop
7g D.J. Fletcher And got in the groove through R&B and Hip Hop
Song 7: Parade Of Superstars (lip sync)
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