August 22, 2007

Black Cultural Center celebrates family day with the blues

This year's celebration, which begins at approximately 3:30 p.m. and ends at 5 p.m. and will be held at the center, 1100 Third St., pays homage to Bessie Smith, a blues singer from the 1920-30s. Actors from the Black Cultural Center will portray blues musicians and characters in "Miss Bessie's Juke Joint" where guests can listen to and learn about blues music.

"Bessie Smith has been described as a rude, crude, violent woman and also one of the most popular and successful classic female blues singers of her era," said Jolivette Anderson-Douoning, facility and program supervisor for the Black Cultural Center. "We will travel back to a time in history to bring to light the conditions that contributed to making her that way and to explore the era when Miss Bessie was at her peak as a recording artist. We'll paint a picture of African-American life in the South through roleplay, storytelling, music and dance."

The celebration also features children's activities and a sampling of southern cuisine.

"Come dressed in the clothes of the working-class farm hands, such as blue jean overalls, your Saturday night juke joint attire or your Boilermaker black and gold," Anderson-Douoning said. "The whole family will have a good time at 'Miss Bessie's Juke Joint' while learning about the blues and the people who created it. We also will have samplings of styles of music from around the world that can be compared to the blues because of similar social and human conditions."

During the fall semester, the Black Cultural Center's Cultural Arts Series includes lectures as well as artistic performances as part of the semester-long exploration of "The myths and mores that make up the blues tradition." The BCC Performing Arts Ensembles, which include the Black Voices of Inspiration choir, Jahari Dance Troupe, New Directional Players theatrical company and Haraka Writers, will travel to Memphis, Tenn. and Clarksdale, Miss. to study the musical expression of the Black American working class.

For information, contact Jolivette Anderson-Douoning at (765) 494-3094,jjanderson@purdue.edu, or visit the Web site at https://www.purdue.edu/bcc

Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu

Source: Jolivette Anderson-Douoning, (765) 494-3094, jjanderson@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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