With sparkle and no small measure of showmanship, Madison delivers the goods.
The oratory style she moves into half way through is reminiscent of the patterns of "traditional African-American religious oratory" captured in James Weldon Johnson's collection of poetic sermons written in free verse entitled, God’s Trombones, published in 1927.
from God's Trombones: A Review By Amin Sharif
I am old enough to remember when every black child was required to memorize and recite the poems of Langston Hughes or James Weldon Johnson. The recitation of these works usually took place at church or in school. And these occasions came as close to a rite of passage as anything possessed by the Black Community in those days. Each child practiced for weeks to stand before parents and friends to recite the words of these two great poets. And woe unto the child who forgot his lines or who gave a recitation that did not move those assembled. For the younger children, Langston Hughes was more than appropriate. But for those in the upper grades, James Weldon Johnson’s works were the only ones that would suffice. And among Johnson’s works, only The Creation was deemed a masterwork. Only the best of the best was ever allowed to present this work to a congregation or the school assembly.
I can clearly remember an assembly at my old elementary school # 138 when a senior from Douglas High School came to present Johnson’s masterwork to my schoolmates and me. The orator was a very dark skinned, youth with a deep bass voice. Standing in a spotlight, the youth stretched out his arms and became his dramatic presentation. There seemed to be no other sound in the world but his voice as he described how God made the world. Though the poem is relatively short, this youth seemed to make time stand still for us. In our mind’s eye, we saw God fling His heavenly Light against the Eternal Deep. And, we saw how “like a mammy” the Creator knelt down to make Him “a man.” To me, the recitation was like a song--an old Negro spiritual--that I heard my great-grandmother sing while hanging out wash. Yet, at the same time, the verses seemed more holy than a spiritual. We all sat there mesmerized as the presentation went on. And when the last words of the poem had been spoken, we had the same strange feeling a child gets when he emerges from baptismal waters...
Fantastic. What a wonderful child. I wish the youtube song guy or someone would make a song out of this. Call it "The World Needs Books". Stated with defiant certainty, backed up with the clenched fist of power. 1:57. I heartily concur. Conquer the earth, with books.
And where do you think she learned to speak and express herself like that?
While part of her confidence might be inherent, and part may replicate what she's seen and heard on television, I'm guessing there's likely a respected person in her life/community who uses that style of communication, a preacher, teacher or parent who waxes eloquent, channels passion and knows how to stand, speak and connect with others. Someone gifted in stretching out their arms and becoming his/her dramatic presentation.
5 comments:
I saw this video the other day. Little girl is just lovely.
With sparkle and no small measure of showmanship, Madison delivers the goods.
The oratory style she moves into half way through is reminiscent of the patterns of "traditional African-American religious oratory" captured in James Weldon Johnson's collection of poetic sermons written in free verse entitled, God’s Trombones, published in 1927.
from God's Trombones: A Review By Amin Sharif
I am old enough to remember when every black child was required to memorize and recite the poems of Langston Hughes or James Weldon Johnson. The recitation of these works usually took place at church or in school. And these occasions came as close to a rite of passage as anything possessed by the Black Community in those days. Each child practiced for weeks to stand before parents and friends to recite the words of these two great poets. And woe unto the child who forgot his lines or who gave a recitation that did not move those assembled. For the younger children, Langston Hughes was more than appropriate. But for those in the upper grades, James Weldon Johnson’s works were the only ones that would suffice. And among Johnson’s works, only The Creation was deemed a masterwork. Only the best of the best was ever allowed to present this work to a congregation or the school assembly.
I can clearly remember an assembly at my old elementary school # 138 when a senior from Douglas High School came to present Johnson’s masterwork to my schoolmates and me. The orator was a very dark skinned, youth with a deep bass voice. Standing in a spotlight, the youth stretched out his arms and became his dramatic presentation. There seemed to be no other sound in the world but his voice as he described how God made the world. Though the poem is relatively short, this youth seemed to make time stand still for us. In our mind’s eye, we saw God fling His heavenly Light against the Eternal Deep. And, we saw how “like a mammy” the Creator knelt down to make Him “a man.” To me, the recitation was like a song--an old Negro spiritual--that I heard my great-grandmother sing while hanging out wash. Yet, at the same time, the verses seemed more holy than a spiritual. We all sat there mesmerized as the presentation went on. And when the last words of the poem had been spoken, we had the same strange feeling a child gets when he emerges from baptismal waters...
Fantastic. What a wonderful child. I wish the youtube song guy or someone would make a song out of this. Call it "The World Needs Books". Stated with defiant certainty, backed up with the clenched fist of power. 1:57. I heartily concur. Conquer the earth, with books.
She's like a pint sized Jimmy Durante.
And where do you think she learned to speak and express herself like that?
While part of her confidence might be inherent, and part may replicate what she's seen and heard on television, I'm guessing there's likely a respected person in her life/community who uses that style of communication, a preacher, teacher or parent who waxes eloquent, channels passion and knows how to stand, speak and connect with others. Someone gifted in stretching out their arms and becoming his/her dramatic presentation.
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