Anansi the Spider and the Middle Passage

192863 Resource 100513 101704 101704 1198099669669 1226703587694 Controlled Plays for Black History Month

Now as ever, it is important to keep the impetus of Dr. Woodson in mind while looking for tools to enlighten our youth and keep the vision intact for all of us

We owe the celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of black history, to Dr. Carter G. Woodson.  Whilst earning his Ph.D. from Harvard, the scholar was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population - and when blacks did figure into the picture, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position they were assigned at the time. Now as ever, it is important to keep the impetus of Dr. Woodson in mind while looking for tools to enlighten our youth and keep the vision intact for all of us. Pioneer Drama Service offers both plays and texts with material to be performed on stage or taught in a classroom setting. Some of our plays related to Black History Month include:Anansi the Spider and the Middle Passage – Frank Higgins“An imaginative re-telling of the Anansi folktales put into a new context as the tales come to America on a slave ship…Wonderfully theatrical.” ~Omaha World-HeraldPeanutman: A Visit from George Washington Carver – Frank HigginsThis entertaining biography emphasizes George Washington Carver's determination and curiosity while utilizing outstanding audience participation.Tale of the Mouse – Anita GustafsonThis play consists of a series of classic African folk tales narrated and performed by actors using only masks to create a variety of characterizations. A Land Beyond the River – Loften MitchellBased on the true story of the integration movement in education, this play offers a look at the African-American's struggle for freedom in America.Some of the following texts may have selections to suit your Black History Month needs:<ul><li><div class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><a title="Great Scenes from Minority Playwrights" href="http://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=GREATMINOR&ID=0">Great Scenes from Minority Playwrights</a> – Marsh Cassady (ed.)</div></li><li><div><a title="Multicultural Folktales" href="http://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=MULTIFOLKT&ID=0">Multicultural Folktales</a> – Suzanne I. Barchers</div></li><li><div><a title="Multicultural Theatre" href="http://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=MULTICULTU&ID=0">Multicultural Theatre</a> – Roger Ellis (ed.)</div></li><li><div class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><a title="Plays of America from American Folklore" href="http://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=PLAYSOFAME&ID=0">Plays of America from American Folklore</a> – L.E. McCullogh</div></li></ul>Any of the plays or texts listed above can be an instrumental piece in the celebration of Black History Month for your school or community.  Either in the classroom or on the stage, these titles are sure to entertain as well as educate. 9 application/xml false African American plays Black History Month Carter G. Woodson classes Classroom Education plays folklore folktales George Washington Carver Integration subject plays lessons minority multicultural Plays play publishers plays slavery teach textbooks texts theater theatre Anansi the Spider and the Middle Passage Anansi, the celebrated spider from African folklore, tells the story of an African mother and daughter who are kidnapped and sold into slavery. http://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=ANANSITHES&id=0 Peanutman This entertaining biography emphasizes George Washington Carver's determination and curiosity while utilizing outstanding audience participation. http://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=PEANUTMAN%20&id=0 Tale of the Mouse This play introduces young audiences to a series of classic African folk tales, narrated and performed by actors using only masks to create a variety of characterizations. http://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=TALEOFTHEM&id=0 A Land Beyond the River Based on the true story of the integration movement in education, this play offers a look at the African-American's struggle for freedom in America. http://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=LANDBEYOND&id=0 Additional Texts We recommend that you take a look at a number of texts that would be excellent for Black History Month http://www.pioneerdrama.com/text-scenes.asp <TABLE ><TR><TD><IMG src="http://claytonmuseum.org/blackfacts/images/woodson.jpg" height="225" alt="Dr. Carter G. Woodson"></td><TD>   </td><TD><IMG src="http://www.orgsites.com/oh/creation/Carver,_George_Washington.jpg" height="225" alt="George Washington Carver"></td></tr><TR><TD>Dr. Carter G. Woodson </td><TD>   </td><TD>George Washington Carver </td></tr></table> Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 2.0.50727) 127.0.0.1 127.0.0.1 mglassman 64.62.58.1 false true false false true 100513 blog blogsite/PioneerDrama/newsletter