In honor of Black History Month, TheCreativeUnderground and Bessie Smith Cultural Center will present a live dramatic/musical performance of African American literary classic, God’s Trombones.
The event will be held on Sunday, Feb. 9, from 6-8 p.m. within the Bessie Smith Cultural Center’s Performance Hall.
God’s Trombones, a collection of poems that refigure inspirational sermons by itinerant southern black preachers, was published in 1927 by one of the nation’s most prolific African American figures in the areas of law, education, music and literature, James Weldon Johnson. Mr. Johnson, who was a U.S. diplomat in Venezuela, the first secretary general of the NAACP and songwriter to “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (often referred as “The African-American National Anthem”) was inspired by the fiery black preachers he saw as a child while traveling through the South.
“I was moved by Mr. Johnson’s array of talents, all of which he used in some form to help shape America’s history,” said Shane Morrow, director of TheCreativeUnderground. “It is my belief that celebrating African American classics like “God’s Trombones” not only honors Black History Month, it enriches and educates our whole diverse community here in Chattanooga.”
God’s Trombones will feature the following community leaders, advocates and performers together, for this one time performance, to give their renditions to the stirring passages; Anthony O. Sammons , Pastor Jeffrey Wilson, Rev. Charlotte S. Williams, Rev. Kenneth Love, Rev. Carlos D. Williams, Dr. Paul Smith, Reverend Ernest Tanner and other leaders within the community.
"The Bessie is thrilled to partner with TheCreativeUnderground to present 'God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse' at our facility for a third time," said Carmen Davis, Bessie Smith Cultural Center's curator and director of education. "This hugely successful production taps into the faith that has sustained the African American community through slavery, segregation and beyond.”
Tickets are available at The Bessie Smith Cultural Center beginning on Tuesday. Ticket admission price is $10. For more information on the God’s Trombones performance, go to www.tcuchatt.com or call 266-8658.