The Shades of Black Show promises to
deliver more than a free talent show Saturday, Feb. 9, at the University of
Idaho SUB Ballroom.
The over 700 people who are expected to attend
the free event, according to Leathia Botello, Coordinator of Multicultural
Student Programs at U of I, will experience an evening of talent and culture
from a variety of communities.
Many of the performers for this
multicultural showcase are students from U of I and surrounding universities. Performances
include dance, slam poetry, stand-up comedy and gospel singing to name a few.
One act that is sure to catch the
audience's attention is that of sophomore Washington State University student,
Drew Smith.
The road to the Shades of Black Show was
almost cut short when Smith slept through the auditions for the 2013 show.
However, fate stepped in and gave Smith and her partner, fellow WSU student,
Kamella Kafiyeva another chance at the Shades of Black Show when the duo sent a
video of their work to the show’s creator and producer, Kwapi Vengesayi.
Smith and Kafiyeva will be performing an
original slam poem titled “The Recipe to Real”.
“The recipe to real is more complex
than just content like racism and sex” is the opening line to the piece.
Smith describes this piece as something
that people are sure to notice. Slam poetry is different from traditional forms
in that it demands the audience’s full attention in an overt way. For Smith,
slam poets are more direct in their messages, something that can be attributed
to their passion for the words they are speaking.
“It’s more than just what you’re
saying, it’s how you’re saying it” said Smith.
Poetry is part of a healing process
for Smith. “It’s a great coping mechanism. I’m a writer…and when I can speak
the pain it makes it a good feeling…it’s like personal therapy” said Smith.
Smith hopes that through her
performance at the Shades of Black Show the audience can reach their own
healing or, at the very least, come away with some kind of lesson.
“At the end of the day as long as
someone can connect with or feel what we’re saying it’s a job well done” Smith
said.
Other performers in the Shades of
Black Show line-up share Smith’s sentiments.
Senior WSU student David Osei will
perform a stand-up comedy routine, and describes the show as a cathartic
experience not only for the performers, but for the audience as well.
“[The Shades of Black Show] is a
chance for people to see the different shades of people, to experience a piece
of other people’s lives when they give you what they’ve prepared…it’s like a
gift” said Osei.
Beyond the therapeutic potential of
the show is the potential for cross-cultural interactions and understanding.
The director of God’s Harmony, the
gospel choir to perform at Shades, junior WSU student Lareesa Blakely, conveys
the show as an opportunity for people of all walks of life to come together in
one venue and celebrate their differences.
“I feel like Shades of Black is open to
everybody, especially those who aren’t open to these kinds of things…so that they
can see that every culture is beautiful” said Blakely.
The possibility for open discussion
surrounding diversity of culture and people is something that Leathia Botello,
Coordinator of Multicultural Programs, looks forward to with the Shades of
Black Show.
“I think that they will enjoy [the show]
and get a lot from it, and hopefully it will help create a dialogue with them
and the people around them” said Botello regarding first time Shades of Black
Show attendees.
Smith, Osei, Blakely, and Botello all spoke
to the potential for the Shades of Black Show to foster relationships that
cross cultural boundaries. Each sees the Shades of Black Show as
more than a showcase of talent.
“[The Shades of Black Show] is a
beautiful look inside not only the black experience, but beyond that, and more
people need to hear about it” said Smith.
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Shades of Black Show, Feb. 9, University of Idaho SUB Ballroom, Doors open at 5 pm
