Speaking

SPEAKING

My speaking repertoire is comprised of sixty-one (61) speeches/performances. When presenting a performance speech, my desire is to educate, entertain, motivate, and empower the audience. These performances, which are creative medleys of speech, poetry, song, and movement, include: Opened for Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee (Otelia Cromwell Day, Smith College); Media One Talent Showcase; The Department of Justice Martin Luther King Day Celebration; National Black Arts Festival; Uptown Comedy Corner; Sweet Auburn Festival; Culture Center; Patti Hut; Have a Heart Benefit; Harlem Renaissance (Amherst College); Black History Celebration Event (Southern Polytechnic State University); Images of Sound (Augustus Savage Art Gallery at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst).

 

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES HIGHLIGHTS

1. Kwanzaa, Smith College (1988-1991 / 4 performances)
2. International Students’ Day, Smith College (1991)
3. Harlem Renaissance, Amherst College (1991)
4. Africa Day, Dartmouth College (1991)
5. Kwanzaa, Amherst College (1991)
6. Black Students’ Alliance Jazz Dinner/Dance, Smith College (1991-1992 / 2 performances)
7. Africa Day, Smith College (1991-1992 / 2 performances)
8. Kwanzaa, University of Massachusetts at Amherst (1991)
9. Otelia Cromwell Day, Smith College (opened for special guests Mr. Ossie Davis and Ms. RubyDee, 1991)
10. Smith Festival, Smith College (1991)
11. Carver Community School Closing Program (1991)
12. Black Students’ Alliance Sixth Annual Conference, Smith College (1992 / 2 performances)
13. Multicultural Day, University of Massachusetts at Amherst (1992)
14. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration, Academy of Music (1992)
15. International Students’ Day, Smith College (1992)
16. Africa Day, Brown University (1992)
17. Lamont House Black History Month Celebration, Smith College (1992)
18. Poetry in Black (PBS Television Program)
19. Have a Heart Benefit, Pearl Street (1992 / chief emcee and 1 performance reading)
20. Images of Sound, Augustus Savage Art Gallery at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (1992)
21. Rhythm Nations, Smith College (1992)
22. National Black Arts Festival (1996)
23. Culture Center (1996)
24. Dekalb Technical Institute Black History Month Celebration (1996 / performed as a member of a collective)
25. Uptown Comedy Corner (1997 / 2 performances)
26. Sweet Auburn Festival (1997)
27. Harris Family Reunion (1997)
28. Harris Anniversary Celebration (1997)
29. Patti Hut Jamaican Restaurant (1997-1998 / 2 performances)
30. Media One Talent Showcase (1998)
31. The Department of Justice Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration (1998)
32. Black History Month Celebration, Southern Polytechnic State University (1998-2002 / 5 performances)
33. Creative and Talented African Americans Monthly Meeting (1999 / 2 performances)
34. Atlanta Metropolitan College Black History Month Poetry Jam Showcase (2002)
35. Honors Day, Atlanta Metropolitan College (2002)
36. Atlanta Urban Mediamakers, Inc. (2002 / 2 performances, including a performance during the birthday celebration for Centennial Olympic Park)

COLLABORATIVE PERFORMANCES HIGHLIGHTS

[From 1992-1994, I was a member of the collective “Voices of a Beige to Blue Nation.”  “Voices of a Beige to Blue Nation” was a group of poets whose goal was to deliver raw and powerful word-sound, interwoven with rhythmic Afro-Caribbean beats.  Following is a list of my performances with this collective.]

1. The Commonwealth Grill – 3 performances
2. Assata – 2 performances
3. Downtown Café – 3 performances
4. Verse on Line – 1 performance
5. The Ultimate Improv – 1 performance