“You Don’t Know My Story,” a production of Black cultural expression composed by the Shippensburg University African American Organization in collaboration with the Office of Multicultural student affairs, wrapped up Saturday, at the Memorial Auditorium. This was a play that celebrates history, humanity, diversity and struggle.

This original production included dancing, singing, skits, a variety of other artistic performances and all of it had a message of cultural pride and empowerment. Madeline Kwarteng, Morgan-Craig Williams, SimmieRay Dinkins, Ayonna Bracken with Darlene Giddings, Anjenae Richardson, Marcus Watkins and Ronnia Tate, with Roneisha Tate and Andrew Thompson, all had a directing role in the two-hour event that included a total cast of 79 actors, with 21 different scenes broken into three acts.

Lavell Simpkins, president of the Black Student Union, said about the production, “This isn’t just a production of black culture, it’s an expression of all human culture.” Simpkins added, “This was also made for people to see into another culture and realize that some cultures are a lot alike.”

Each act had a message with it, whether it be a political skit sending a message of injustice regarding the recent trials of Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner, or a rap that sent a message of seeking success and striving for excellence. The strong emotional stories were about everyday strife and a powerful history, while showing the struggles and triumphs at the same time.

Marcus Watkins, a singer and music director in the performance, said, “It’s all about experiencing your culture and living in it.”

During the production, an emphasis on fraternity brotherhood was brought to light. The “Devine Nine,” are the nine historically Black Greek letter organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council according to www.blackgreek.com.

Famous human rights activists, like Malcom X and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., were prominent figures in some of the productions, and were quoted and admired for their bravery in the fight against oppression and bravery at a time of extreme inequality.

Some performances referenced a dark time in American history, when slavery was a reality and not history. In most of the performances there was a message of pride, empowerment and fighting for justice. Much like the performances in the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S’s “I Am A Man,” where the actors were protestors screaming in the aisles of the theater, this production was organized and directed well.

The audience supported the performers the entire way and all praise was deserved. For more information on joining a fraternity in the “Divine Nine” or joining Multicultural Student Affairs, please visit www.ship.edu/MSA/Clubs/Student_Involvement/.

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