The 52nd largest urban center in America is St. Louis. It, like its much larger cousins (such as New York, Los Angeles or Houston), battles the same problems.
Shrinking tax bases, crumbling infrastructure, homelessness, unemployment, crime and drug problems all have a place on the streets of these and most other American cities.
St. Louis is no exception.
In a bold, new, four-part series, your Missouri History Museum is going to give you a chance to tackle these problems through the words and music of artists who have their own unique way of exploring this complex landscape. Urban Stories: Reflections of History launches Part 1 Thursday, September 4 with the appearance of actor Andre Royo. Royo created the memorable junkie/snitch “Bubbles” on the highly acclaimed HBO series, The Wire.
Unlike most of the characters the 40-year-old actor has portrayed, Royo has decided not to shed “Bubbles,” but instead to use the character as a teaching tool to help people explore modern issues plaguing 21st century cities like ours.
Royo was asked recently, in a January interview that appeared in the New York Times’ entertainment section, about the popularity of a character as despicable as Bubbles.
“Why,” he was asked, “do people find this character likable?”
“I truly believe that the Bubbles character made a lot of people aware of how desensitized we are. We just walk by homeless people. We never stop to think, how did they end up here,” Royo told the Times.
“We just think they are irresponsible and it’s on them and we go about our lives. Someone comes over to us asking for help and we just say, ‘I got this thing I got to do’ and keep walking. Since I’ve been playing Bubbles, I feel guilty for all those times I didn’t stop to listen. They might be junkies, they might be homeless but they are human beings.”
In part, it is this heightened empathy Royo feels for those on the bottom rung of our urban societies that will bring him and Bubbles here to your Missouri History Museum.
A native New Yorker, Royo has observed the kind of street life he portrays. Also, while doing research for his character, Royo consulted with someone who lived that life in Baltimore where The Wire is set. Royo had seen the junkies and the homeless people, yet knew nothing of the drug life.
“[She] brought me around to a lot of her friends that are still in the life. We all see these people. We make them invisible because we don’t want to be bothered.”
Andre Royo intends to make us look at these people many of us don’t want to be bothered with and try to understand. It’s an appearance you don’t want to miss.
Part 2 of the Urban Stories series will be presented Sunday, September 21 when national poetry slam champion Marc Bamuthi Joseph brings his unique perspective on urban life to your Missouri History Museum.
This spoken word artist and veteran of the Broadway stage will use his poems and recitations to share his knowledge of the vagaries of urban existence.
Noted jazz musician and Blue Note recording artist, Jason Moran on Sunday, October 5, will present Part 3. Moran will use his musical artistry to envelop you in the sounds of urban America.
uthor, Benjamin Skinner will bring a darker side of urban America in Part 4 of the series on Thursday, October 23 with a reading of excerpts from his book A Crime So Monstrous: Face to Face with Modern-Day Slavery.
You can buy single event tickets or season tickets at substantial savings. Individual tickets for Urban Stories are $10, $7 for MHM members. Season tickets are $35. MHM members pay only $25.
Each program begins at 6 p. m. with a reception and live broadcast by series sponsor KMJM, Majic 104.9. The presentations begin at 7 p. m. and the reception resumes after the presentation. You’ll get two chances to meet and greet each of the performers.
You really don’t want to miss this great series. Your Missouri History Museum and Majic 104.9 are proud to collaborate to bring you this high quality series. Tickets can be purchased now at your Missouri History Museum or you can go online at www.mohistory.org or call (314) 361-9017.
Last take
Get ready ‘cause here they come! The Fabulous Motown Revue brings its “foot- stompin’, feel good” show to Twilight Tuesdays on September 2. Clear Channel Radio and the St. Louis American are the sponsors. It’s a rousing good time that starts at 6:30 p. m., but come early because it’s gonna be huge!