The 2013 Season for Non-Violence Celebration will continue at Sinclair Community College with the hosting of a solo hip hop theatre show that combines education and art, while looking into a dark period in our nation’s history.
“Free Land: A Hip Hop Journey from the Streets of Oakland to the Wild Wild West” will take place on Friday, March 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Building 8 stage area. The performance will be open to students, faculty and staff.
“Free Land,” written and performed by guest Ariel Luckey, tells the story of a young, white American in the 21 century investigating America’s roots and the genocide of Native Americans after an interview with his grandfather reveals the devastating history behind their family ranch in Wyoming.
Luckey’s journey is communicated via the “hip hop theatre experience,” as he employs spoken word poetry, hip hop music, dance and acting to convey his discovery and experience.
The presentation is sponsored by Sinclair’s Student Leadership Development Office, Diversity Office, Center for Teaching and Learning, Theatre and Dance Department, Ohio Fellows and the Holocaust Remembrance Committee.
“It’s a part of the season for nonviolence, but it’s also an opportunity for our students to hear another perspective on diversity, another perspective on race and ethnicity,” Tom Roberts, Sinclair Ohio Fellows advisor said.
Chief Diversity Officer Gwendolyn Jones said she believes the performance will add to the student experience by educating viewers to the development and growth of the country from a historical perspective, as well as aiding the openness to be “sensitive and aware that the land was here before any of us arrived.” “It’s an illuminating and enlightening process that he’s going to bring to us — basically for understanding, so that we can have honest dialogue with each other.” Jones said.
Luckey said he was initially surprised upon the discovery that his family’s ranch was a homestead, but that evolved into curiosity and fueled his research. With further investigation into the land’s history, he said he felt the injustice with a mixture of sadness, anger and a confusing sense of guilt that came with a better understanding of the past.
“That was really a big turning point for me; this isn’t just a story about my family and my grandfather’s ranch, because really it’s part of the story of this country that everybody who lives here now is connected to one way or the other,” Luckey said. “And that was part of my motivation to turn it into a theatre performance and share it with the world.”
Luckey said the majority of his performances and work is in an educational context, whether that be a middle school, high school or college setting.
“For me, it is really important to engage with young people; people who are learning about the world, critically thinking about their lives and digging into the big questions,” he said.
Luckey said he’s excited to meet people from around the country and varying schools, observe the spectrum of education within those schools and contribute to that education with his art.
“I think he brings a message, but he brings it in a way that students can understand it and participate,” Roberts said. “So, it’s not a passive presentation. It’s a very active presentation from what I understand.”
Roberts said he was under the impression the event has taken on a positive light around campus, with some faculty members already expressing their plans to bring their classes to the “Free Land” performance.
“I’m looking forward to it… Anytime our students can hear from someone of his caliber, but also can participate in a presentation, I think makes it more of an opportunity for them to learn the message,” Roberts said.
Luckey will arrive on campus on March 14 for a Sinclair Change Agent event for faculty and staff and will perform for Dayton-region high schools students on March 15 during the annually held National Conference on Community and Social Justice Teen Summit, before the 1 p.m. open performance of “Free Land.”