BSL explores culture through poetry

Although its name implies a variety of performance styles, the Black Talent Extravaganza actually focused on poetic expression. In a celebration of Black History Month Monday night, the event brought three performing groups together to share their talents in the Annenberg School Theatre. "Daughters of the Diaspora," an all-female talent troupe from Temple University, began its performance with a ritual which acknowledges the role of ancestors in "getting us where we are today." The audience was invited to participate by shouting out names of loved ones who have supported them. Clad in vibrant colors, the women performed a variety of poetic and musical skits that addressed issues concerning the black woman's experience in the United States. The women said they wanted to "heal through poetry" and to share the message that "black is beautiful." Provoking laughter from the audience, the women used humor to address some very complex and personal issues for black people living in the United States. After the troupe performed, Jessica Care Moore, a poet hailing from Brooklyn, stood center stage and shared her poetry with the audience. Her writing dealt with similar issues to those addressed by the "Daughters of the Diaspora." Moore explained that a great deal of her poetry came from her own personal experiences. Although Moore's poetry focused on the black woman's experience in America, many males in the audience awarded her with a standing ovation when she finished her dramatic readings. "Generation 2000," an all-male performing group of five members that originated in Washington, D.C., closed out the evening with its own style of dramatic poetry. The group's poetry addressed the black man's experience in the U.S., in addition to a variety of other issues. "Generation 2000" members explained that a revolution is underway to empower the black community. They emphasized the seriousness of their mission, adding that "no Michaels, not Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson" are going to be leading it. All three groups addressed the responsibility blacks have for their future, encouraging the audience to give back to their communities. The approximately 75 attendees responded enthusiastically to the event, which was held in correlation with Minority Scholars Weekend. "[The prospective students] had been to other scholars' weekends and none of them had brought out a cultural aspect the way Penn had," said Wharton senior Kendrick Cox, who is president of the Black Student League, which sponsored the event. Cox said he hoped the event gave the scholars "a different flavor and showed them different aspects of black culture."