u
AU
Boy Willie bas a problem.
His family 0 ns a piano that
slavebolders traded for some
of his ancestors. Sculptures of
lost relatives carved by bis
great-grandfatber adorn its
leg. It's a constant reminder
of the family's blood-stained
lavery past.
The piano isn't much use to
anyone anymore. By selling it,
Boy Willie could get enough
money 'to buy a parcel of land
nd make a future for himself.
But his sentimental sister Ber­
niece refuse to let it go.
"Wbo' is right?" asks author derstand our pa t so we can
August Wilson in his play. move forward." .
"The Piano Lesson." All of
Wilson's plays create con-
flicts that force viewers to WILSON HAS produced'
look at the continuing effect six powerful plays tbat have
of slavery on Black life. . grabbed the .auention of
·"�Iac.ks are a disinherited theatergoers and have been
people: said Wilson. "They showered with critical ac­
were taken from their lafld, claim. "Ma Rainey's Black
put into servitude in a new Bottom, " which marked
country and stripped of their Wilson's Broadway debut in
culture. Now, we are search- ) <)84� won the New York
ing to understand who we are Drama Critic. Circle Award
and where we come from. We' for best play. "Fences," in
need literature to help us un- )987. also won the Circle
-AVOIC
Judicial Jazz' 8a . h will
. .
benefit area juveniles
programs like "Work to Suc­
ceed," and "Read to Suc­
ceed," which provide
Judical Jazz III, a swing- alternatives [or kids in
ing Detroit jazz event which trouble.
was organized t� entertain FOR THREE YEARS
upporters of the programs "Work to Succeed" has sue­
for kids who come to the ceedcd in providing paid jobs
juvenile court system, was for kids on probation who
held recently at Detroit want to improve their lives.
Brewery Place. The event Some have done so well be­
showcased the judge in an cause of these jobs, that they
evening of pi ying jazz to found regular employment.
keep the kids out of jail. "Read To Succeed"
At Judicial Jazz III Judges provides intensive remedia­
Mike (Myron) Wahls, a etas- t i o n for reading disabled
steal and Jazz Pi nist: and probationer. It is estimated,
Leonard Town end, renown tha t more than 50% of
Detroit Jazz Pianist, (be-bop, juvenile delinquents have
classical and mainstream) sugnficant reading problems.
entertained supporters of the The program w s emceed
programs for juvenile court, by Detroit Channel 4 News
which was ponsored by the Anchor, Kathy Adams.
Citizen Advisory Commit- The Citizens Advisory
tee to the W yne County Committee to the Wayne
Juvenile Court. County Jevenile Court is a
Judge Claudia Morcom, group of 40 citizens ap­
who al 0 wa on the program pointed by the pre iding
for Judic I Jazz III, is an out- judge of the Juvenile Court to
tanding J zz Voc Ii t, but advise and assist the Court.
did not perform at this event.. Co-chairs, Horace Shel-
The aff ir, which supports don and Larry Given point
. By J.I). Lutcher III
FreeLance Jau Writer/Critic
with pride to the e programs.
But they note, "perhaps our
more important contribution
has been our ability to make
the community more aware of
the needs of kids who come
to the Court."
AL 0 FETED AT the
Judical Ba h was General
Motor vice -presiden t AI
Warren who wa invited five
years ago to help the troubled
kids at the Juvenile Courl.
A.t "Judical Jazz 111," 'on
Thursday evening, Warren
was honored for the strong
support inat General Motors
has given programs for delin­
quent kids.
At the hjghly successful
jazz event, both judges,
Wahls and Leonard
Townsend, who alternated on
piano, were b eked by three
well known Detroit jazz
musicians, Drummer George
Davidson, now' with the
Eddie Russ Jazz En emble;
Ba si t-vocalist, nd former
Detroit chool teacher,
Marion Hayden; and Trum­
peter Charlie Hopkin .
tsbur h. He used t spend time
at a local cigar sop, where
elderl Black me told jokes
and stories and ar ued about
daily events. Wil on soaked
up their rich diale t and their
uni uc Iview of the world.
From an early ge, Wil on
showed a . pecial talent for
writing. At age 15 he wrote a
history. essay that as 0 good
his teacher assu ed he had
copied it from a b k. He was
expell d and from that point
forward. every hing he
learned was. elf-tit ght.
Wilson
p
library, where he discovered a .
curious corner marked "Negro
Section." Book by Richard
Wright, Arna Bonternps ,
Chester Hime and other
Black writers dominated the
shelf.
"I read all 30 or so of those
book " be recalled. "They
were 11 e precious jewels. 1
feJt tremendou pride in
seeing those boo jackets with
the names of Bl ck authors
printed aero them and im­
agined what my name would
look like in print."
Whi e supporting himself
wi th menial jobs, Wilson
began writing. He met other
young Blacks who shared his
appreciation for literature, art
and m ic. They had concerts,
cncour ged and critiqued each
other's 'writing and sparked
each other' creative fire .
It was not until Wi) on left
his Pitt burgh neighborhood
and moved to SI. Paul. Minn .•
in 1978, that he developed a
style of hi own. i-new
predominantly white .nviron­
ment made him more' ware of
the few Black voi es. e
heard the rhythms an intona­
tions and discove e d the
beauty of Black. spee h. And
he started writing their words
down.
"I di covered that the way
10 convey the drama of Black
lives wa for the characters to
tell their own toric ." be aid.
