Hush 12/20/2011
 
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Hush

I thought it would be impossible—silencing 1400 school age kids in less than 20 seconds. In fact, I held my breath (well partially), and inched a little closer to the edge of my seat as I waited to see if it would happen.

Hush

Amazingly, as the lights of the Kimmel Center inched toward darkness and the spot light fell upon the Liberian Choir who had come to share “Can You Hear God Crying” with Art Sanctuary, a hush fell on the 1400 young lips and I leaned back in my chair and took a deep breath.

Hush – We are ready.

Hush – We are hungry.

Hush – We are excited.

Upward they stared, eyes landing curiously on black and white dual screens, as they were introduced to a different kind of man, a soft spoken, powerful man--HAN-NI-BAL LO-KUM-BE.  They repeated slowly when prompted. A voice they’d never heard, a face they’d never seen, a man who called them babies and showered love that they could take away with them when the day was over.

I watched their eyes, the expression on their faces, and the stillness of their long and short legs. They have come, hundreds of them, without really knowing what to expect—their bodies wrapped in red luxury and new smelling wood; they are pleased.

Hush

The pure tone of the “Mother God’s” voice cut through the anticipation as she cried for the souls of her people, her children. The coordinated choir and band members watched her, their irises glued to her powerful arms as they moved up and down with each word.  They were gathering, storing knowledge, to be used later, maybe in the quiet of their bedroom as they practice for another performance.

“She can really sing,” whispers my granddaughter Tyler, who I had hooked from school. Her eyes glowed in the soft black of the auditorium and my heart fluttered as I smiled, overjoyed that she has been touched by the powerful voice of Valerie Gay.

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Jamal Dickerson, who directs the Camden Creative Arts High School band, first met Hannibal last week after playing at a funeral and rushing back to school.  At the funeral, Jamal said, the mother of the deceased, a 25- or 26-year-old man, called the young men to come stand with her. Once they did, she told them that her son, whose body lay so close to them, would not have a second chance.  She said outright that she knew some of them were into drugs, even selling them, but that unlike their son they could walk away from this funeral and grab a second chance at life.  

She urged them to take it.

Jamal went directly into his classroom, where Hannibal was telling the young people about his piece, Can You Hear God Crying?.  In it, the soprano voice of God urges us to come back through the Door of No Return and reclaim the fullness of spirit we were meant to live.  Hannibal talked to the band members about their duty as young musicians: to their work, their history, their community, and themselves.  Then, they played music together, using their breath to carry the waves of sound.

It was beautiful, Jamal says, to walk from the funeral to the class, from death into life. Moreover, after Hannibal's brief residency, one of Jamal's young musicians told him that he'd been slacking off his music, struggling to roll over at 7:20 a.m. instead of 7 to get to school and practice.  This week, however, he sat up in bed at 6:40, ready to go, as if his internal clock understood that the day ahead had purpose.
 
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Today the artists have gathered on Sunday, December 11, to relax, and "break bread" together. On this day full of smiles and full bellies, there is peace--a peace of mind that is truly inspiring. As people fill themselves with delicious food, stories are passed, laughter can be heard and felt everywhere you are. The love and positive energy is truly overwhelming. The musicians speak on the piece and Hannibal answers their questions with one of his many wise saws and amusing anecdotes. This is a time I'm sure none will forget.

 
(Dining today were 
Hanibal Lokumbe 
Nate Thompson 
Valerie Gay
Kaia Burke
Tiara Scott
Biany Pérez 
Tarana Burke 
Lorene Cary
Kim the Reporter
Mogauwane Mahoele
Summai Lokumbe)
                                                          Submitted by Kaia Burke, 9th grade, CAPA 
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First Post! 12/09/2011
 
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