“This production is really about storytelling, and Dred Scott loved to tell stories,” said Lynne Jackson, great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott and executive director of the Dred and Harriet Scott Heritage Foundation.
“That’s one of the things that we’ve learned about him. And the art of storytelling is best expressed through the arts. ”
So through their arts and education component, the foundation looks to the story of another black history icon.
The Paul Robeson story – through a special presentation of “Stogie Kenyatta is Paul Robeson” – will appear onstage this weekend for two performances in St. Louis to benefit the Dred and Harriet Scott Foundation.
“Dred and Harriet sacrificed so much so that they could be free – which ultimately allowed the rest of us to be free,” Jackson said.
“And yet even though Paul Robeson was free, he still dealt with a lot of the Jim Crow laws. He had to deal with, ‘Okay, I am a free American, but…’ and it is part of that ongoing story about what happened after freedom.”
In addition to being a singer, actor, professional athlete and scholar, Robeson was one of the first African Americans to publicly take a stand against the segregation laws of his day.
Robeson graduated valedictorian from Rutgers University in 1919 and received a law degree from Columbia University. He had a successful career in the NFL before becoming known the world over for his rich bass baritone voice, thanks to signature songs such as “Ol’ Man River” and “Lonesome Road.” He starred as the title character in “Othello” in what remains Broadway’s longest running production of Shakespeare.
His unapologetic political views that called for civil rights and blatant black pride would ultimately lead to rejection by his home country and subsequent personal and professional turmoil. But until the end he stood by his beliefs and ultimately – like the Scotts – became a symbol of pride and power.
“People call him the first African-American Renaissance man,” Jackson said. “And we just feel like part of our mandate is to commemorate, educate and to reconcile and this is a part of our education through the arts.”
Stogie Kenyatta contacted the foundation to do the show as a benefit. Through his performance, Jackson says that Kenyatta eloquently expresses the tragedy and triumph of Paul Robeson.
“This man was an incredible example,” Jackson said. “We really want to instill in people that it’s up to you, and in this day and age there is really no excuse not to excel if you apply yourself.”
Kenyatta will be making his Missouri premiere with this collaborative presentation with the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation.
“Through this performance – and what we try to do with the arts and education component – we want to give people a feeling of pride in their race and humanity,” Jackson said.
“We hope to show them that we all can excel and to encourage them to go out and find their gifts and use them – because that’s when you’re going to be the most successful.”
The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation’s presentation of “Stogie Kenyatta is Paul Robeson” will take place at UMSL’s J.C. Penny Conference Center (One University Blvd.) on Saturday, November 10 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, November 11 (3 p.m.). For more information or to purchase tickets for the show, visit www.thedredscottfoundation.org.
