PRIDE World Premiere Opens in Marietta, Georgia at Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, June 16-17
Pride: A New Musical is a brand new show written by JT Butler and Commodore Primous III that follows the story of a Black American family set loosely in the 21st century.
Throughout the story we see how each individual family member (mother, father, oldest son Leroy, daughter Jasmine, and youngest son Lonnie) processes modern-day experiences of racism. For mother and father, raising a black family in a predominately white area brings unique challenges, which they must learn to navigate with grace. For Lonnie, his first experiences with classroom teasing and bullying help him to understand the existence of racism. For Jasmine, having a white boyfriend means she feels more torn than her siblings, wanting to see the good in people. And for Leroy, an encounter with a trigger-heavy cop influences his activism, causing him to speak up about civil rights. Though individually each may feel differently about their identity, it's their bond as a family that gets them through to the next day
Lyrics
Looking back I think it's wack, every time I hit the scene
Just because my skin is black, all the Po-Po acting mean
I try and try to make things right but nobody wants to see
That brilliant black and golden heart that lies inside of me
Seems the word around the town is the blacks boys bring the heat
The white man tries to hold me down but I've never known defeat
Cause MLK and Malcolm X gave me an end with means
If you don't know what I'm sayin', let me set the scene
Say it loud in the crowd, here to call injustice out
Say it loud hear me now, I'm Black and proud and showin' out
Injustice seems to be the norm for black folks just like me
All we want is equal rights but there is no liberty
I thought this country suppose to be the land of the free
But all I see is nasty cops taking away my liberties
When will people learn that Black Later Matter equally
All lives cannot matter 'til you decide to notice me
Don't you know the government acts deceitfully
I stand for equality and won't back down easily
Oh What's their name: Trayvon Martin
Oh What's their name: George Floyd
Oh what's their name: Breonna Taylor
Oh What's their name: Eric Garner
Oh What's their name: Tamir Rice
(Barack Obama recording)
I know that there's some who have criticized even the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' as if the notion is as if other lives don't matter.
We get 'All Lives Matter' or 'Blue Lives Matter.' I understand the point they're trying to make.
I think it's also important for us to understand that the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' simply refers to the notion that there's a specific vulnerability for African-Americans that needs to be addressed.
It's not meant to suggest that other lives don't matter.
It's to suggest that other folks aren't experiencing this particular vulnerability