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

1a   Ethan​​Resilience: the dictionary defines it as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. Humans celebrate resilience. It is in the DNA of every culture on the planet to cheer for the one who is beaten back by life, but still rises. 

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

2a​   MiracleAfrica, the cradle of civilizationThe place where man’s journey of meaning beganIt was from there greatness was discoveredAnd from there, greatness ran
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)

3a  NoelleAmerica’s pledge grew too loud to ignore.All men must be free, even if it means war
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

4a   JourneeThe blues captured how African Americans used music to feel a little better about life’s tough circumstances. 
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 

5a   Joy Jazz was complex, sophisticated and original. The invention of the recording industry allowed jazz to be shared with the whole world on vinyl records.
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)

6a    NiaOne man’s voice cut through the confusion of those turbulent times with a message of love instead of hate. His sound began to lead the movement and transformed it into a thing that brought people together. 
​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

7a    StellaDr. King was assassinated in 1968. But the sound of the call for freedom and equality continued to ring out.
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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