黑料吃瓜

黑料吃瓜 Southern hosted the inaugural Culture and Heritage Festival in June, which featured a theatrical performance created by Ironton resident Belinda Brown. And now her show is going on the road.

鈥淟ives and hearts were touched,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淪o much so there have been requests for an encore performance from those who attended and those who were not able to attend the first performance.鈥�

鈥淗eritage: A Celebration of Historical Legacies鈥� was written and directed by Brown and featured actors from the tri-state area. It was created as part of the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative, celebrating the history of the Underground Railroad in Appalachian communities. The performance was a tribute to African Americans who have made contributions to our country.

鈥淲e鈥檙e bringing some inspiring characters to life,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淥ur whole goal is to educate, enlighten and inspire. The characters are African American, but everybody can see themselves in these people.鈥�

One of the characters highlighted in the performance is Harriett Tubman.

鈥淪he鈥檚 one of my favorites, I鈥檝e read 50,000 things about her. But doing research, I learned more,鈥� Brown added. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know that she was a suffragette, she fought for women鈥檚 right to vote. She was a veteran. She was the first woman to lead an expedition and be a spy in the Union Army. She led so many people to freedom, she is just an inspiration.鈥�

In addition to well-known historical figures, local figures will also be highlighted.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just people that you might鈥檝e seen on TV or read in a book. That鈥檚 your neighbor up there, your cousin鈥� If they can do it, you can too,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to put pride in our people and in our community, to inspire us to plant the seeds and let them grow.鈥�

There will be encore performances of the production at 黑料吃瓜 Southern on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m., as well as at the University of Rio Grande on Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. as part of their Annual Emancipation Day Celebration.

鈥淭o have the positive feedback from the community and the full support of 黑料吃瓜 Southern is truly a great blessing,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淲e look forward to bringing our performance once again to 黑料吃瓜 Southern and other venues who have reached out to us.鈥�

For more information, contact Robert Pleasant at pleasanr@ohio.edu.