Lift Every Voice: The Black Experience in the Heartland

A scene from the play, "Lift Every Voice, The Black Experience in the Heartland."

NPS Photo

In 2016, the National Park Service presented a Bright Star Theatre production, Lift Every Voice, The Black Experience in the Heartland. The play celebrated the National Park Service Centennial and African American history in the Midwest. The production traveled to or near 20 Midwest parks and connected people to black history themes in the Midwest, and the lives of extraordinary figures such as Dred Scott, Abraham Lincoln, Bass Reeves, Colonel Charles Young, George Washington Carver and Elizabeth Eckford. The play was performed at park sites, but also neighboring theaters, historically black churches, school auditoriums, and children's homes.




The play can be viewed at our YouTube channel, Lift Every Voice, The Black Experience in the Heartland

 

NPS Centennial Project-Childre...

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George Washington Carver NM administered the “Lift Every Voice: The Black Experience in the Heartland” play in collaboration with Bright Star Theater. The play traveled to or near 20 Midwest parks and connected 8,000 people to black history themes in the Midwest, and the lives of extraordinary figures such as Dred Scott, Bass Reeves, Col Charles Young and Elizabeth Eckford. A full performance was filmed, and will be made available with a study guide online in early 2017. The play was performed at parks but also neighboring theaters, historically black churches, school auditoriums, and children’s homes. Images are of actors in various scenes in the play.