Fri, Feb. 26 | 6:00 p.m. (PST)
From Tragedy to Triumph Part I:
"The Middle Passage: Between Home and Death"
About the Event
“Let me tell you about this middle space - somewhere between home and death.” From Tragedy to Triumph presents an evening of conversation and art about the Middle Passage (approx. 1525-1866) and the melding of the past and the present, the reality of dehumanization and evil, and the sounds and smells that are inseparable from the soul during this journey. The first in a seven-part series will tell the story of this time in history through discussion, spoken word, narration, dance, and music featuring traditional Sinte drumming. The event will close with a Q&A session with the artists and performers led by USC Thornton professor Ron McCurdy.
RSVP to attend the event on Zoom and participate in the discussion and live Q&A. Viewers can watch the livestream of the event at thorntonlive.usc.edu without RSVP.
Closed captioning will be available in the webinar.
CREATIVE TEAM
Composers
Grace Miedziak
Ben Webster
Filmmakers
Linda Diaz
Adam Karelin
Writer
Nana Adwoa Frimpong
Awo Jama
Choreography
Professor Anindo (Sarah) Marshall
Ceaira Thomas
Narration
Nana Adwoa Frimpong
Ceaira Thomas
Music Researcher
James Delorey
Faculty Mentors
Dr. Bruce Brown
Dr. Francille Wilson
Dr. Frank Ticheli
Professor Anindo (Sarah) Marshall
Reading List
Curated by the creative team, the following books, articles, film and television resources offer a starting point to learn more about the history and key themes featured in this event.
“The Language You Cry In: Story of a Mende Song and Homecoming: The Chronicle of the Black Farmer"
Media review by Jane Collings
The "Middle Passage": The Enforced Migration of Africans Across the Atlantic
By Paul E. Lovejoy
From Tragedy to Triumph is an interactive student-led series about the African diaspora told through discussion with film, dance and music. Organized by USC Thornton professor Ron McCurdy, each event is produced in creative collaboration between student and faculty composers, dancers, filmmakers, musicians and writers from across the university. Learn more >