About

Truth: a bio-fictional choreopoem is a new play combining spoken word, storytelling, movement and music to tell the stories of 19th century black female abolitionists. Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Harriet Hayden and women of lesser known history serve as prototypes for the characters of the play. Truth consists of fragments of story, primary source materials, carte de visites, biography and U.S. history of slavery. Current scholarship in Africana studies, on the powerful and forceful role that Black abolitionists played in catalyzing an end to U.S. slavery, heavily influences the thought of the play.

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Inspiration

The inspiration for Truth: a bio-fictional choreopoem comes from historical research and stories of Black female resistors whose stories have been intentionally hidden from history. The powerful, smart, strategic women continue to inspire us as we consider the world we want to build now.

 

The project started with seed money to begin writing and research from NEFA (New England Foundation of the Arts) and has continued with writers residencies at Linden Place in Bristol, RI, a grant from RISCA (Rhode Island State Council for the Arts). Gail and Josie began their research last summer by meeting with community and local historians. They traveled to areas of New England and New York to study and learn about slavery and liberation, particularly in the North.

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Why Tell This Story Now?

At a time when African American history is being contested in the national curriculum and authors like the Nobel Peace Prize winner Toni Morrison are banned, Truth: a biofictional choreopoem brings vitality to our experience of American History through poetry, movement, sound, story, and song. 

 

We know that Black narratives and Black lives have been silenced and erased. It was illegal for enslaved Africans and their descendents to be literate. Bringing the words of self-emancipating women and Black Abolitionists to light is meant to make visible what has been erased.

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What is a Choreopoem?

A choreopoem is a form of dramatic expression that combines poetry, dance, music, and song. The term was first coined in 1975 by American writer Ntozake Shange in a description of her play, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf. Shange's attempt to depart from traditional western poetry and storytelling resulted in a new art form that doesn't contain specific plot elements or characters, but instead focuses on creating an emotional response from the audience. Many other artists have also innovated within the choreopoem genre, which has become increasingly popular among younger generations of artists.