BRIC, a number one arts and media establishment anchored in Downtown Brooklyn, presents this Saturday “Unbossed & Unbowed,” an immersive and interactive one-woman present written and carried out by Ingrid Griffith, chronicling the lifetime of Shirley Chisholm, the primary African-American lady to run for the US Presidency.
The present, winner of the 2023 Suzi Bass Award for Excellent Manufacturing about Social Justice, borrows its title from Chisholm’s 1972 presidential marketing campaign slogan and later memoir.
The present is a part of BRIC’s performing arts programming at BRIC Home in Downtown Brooklyn. BRIC mentioned it has formed Brooklyn’s cultural and media panorama for over 45 years by presenting and incubating artists, creators, college students and media makers.
Griffith, protégé of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage, an completed author and actor with off-Broadway credit together with productions of “The Basset Desk,” “Doubt,” “Vagina Monologues,” “Twilight: Los Angeles,” “Ruined,” and “Hedda Gabler.”
Her earlier solo present, “Demerara Gold,” toured internationally to extensive acclaim. Griffith’s accolades embody the 2023 Guyana Cultural Affiliation Award and the Danny Glover Energy of Dream Award.
In ‘Unbossed & Unbowed’, expertise the highly effective story of Brooklyn-born Shirley Chisholm, of Barbadian and Guyanese parentage, dubbed the “Black Joan of Arc,” as she challenged the political machine in her pursuit of justice through the Nineteen Sixties and ’70s.
The play traces Chisholm’s journey from her early years spent in Barbados to her immigrant mother and father’ struggles in America, culminating in her groundbreaking presidential marketing campaign.
As Kamala Harris makes historical past as the primary lady, first Black individual – whose father, Dr. Donald Harris, a retired economist, was born in Jamaica – and first individual of South Asian descent to be Vice President of the US, “Unbossed & Unbowed” displays on the groundbreaking path Chisholm paved.
Her groundbreaking 1972 presidential marketing campaign laid the muse for future generations of girls in politics, together with Harris’ presidential runs in 2020 and at present.
“I used to be moved to write down and share the story of this political activist as a result of I’m Afro-Caribbean, a lady and an immigrant and have felt the sharp affect of being a member of every of those classes,” Griffith informed Caribbean Life over the weekend. “The angle of the outsider presents a readability that the one that’s embraced by the favored tradition doesn’t have.
“I selected this lady as a result of I knew little or no about her; and what I knew intrigued me,” she added, stating that “’Unbossed & Unbowed’ informs audiences about an African American social justice activist and political icon who modified historical past.
“I play Shirley as a toddler within the Nineteen Thirties to the lady she turns into in 1972,” Griffith continued. “Her story permits audiences to make connections between our previous and current, and to grasp that political progress is achieved by every and everybody’s participation.”
She mentioned the solo-show style is an integral a part of the present’s message.
“It’s stark, unencumbered and is empowering not just for me, the solo present artist, however viewers members as effectively,” she mentioned. “I’ve felt the facility of it as I toured my first solo present titled, ‘Demerara Gold’, starting in 2014.”
Griffith mentioned the number of characters that she portrays in ‘Unbossed & Unbowed’ have robust voices and legitimate points-of-view, from her mother and father to the native and nationwide leaders, reporters, some recognizable names.
“And I’ve adopted by means of by myself narrative to ship the protagonist’s message,” she mentioned. “I consider this challenge and Shirley Chisholm’s story will encourage others, particularly girls to outline themselves in a world that seeks to outline them.
“Shirley Chisholm’s childhood expertise drastically influenced what Shirley turned captivated with,” she added. “Her immigrant mother and father arrived from the Caribbean to the US within the early Twenties. By the top of the last decade got here the melancholy years; and, with the intention to make ends meet, they determined to ship three-year-old Shirley and her youthful siblings to reside with their maternal grandmother in Barbados.”
Griffith mentioned her hope is that this story will make audiences redefine private success and see the facility of social dedication.
“I hope it’ll encourage the disenfranchised and hook up with individuals who profit from the established order, serving to them to look at the failings in our system and rethink what’s greatest for humankind and our world as an entire,” she mentioned, disclosing that this challenge began in 2015 — 2 ½ years of analysis, 2 ½ years of writing, workshopping and rewriting.
“In 2020, the script was accomplished, then COVID hit,” added Griffith, who has been performing the present reside for the previous three years to audiences of all ages throughout the nation and overseas.
“It’s been a grass roots effort and a labor of affection that’s gaining traction, successful awards and empowering audiences,” she continued. “The present has visuals and music. ‘Unbossed & Unbowed’ will encourage audiences to vote on Nov. fifth, take part within the political system and develop into extra civic-minded.”
Free Youth Schooling Screening takes place on Friday, Sept. 20, 12:30 p.m. Common Normal Viewers Reveals happen the subsequent day, Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. and seven p.m.
BRIC Home is situated at 647 Fulton Road, Brooklyn, New York.
For extra data, contact Joe Wiggins at 917-455-1122, or e-mail: Joewiggins250@gmail.com
