“A Pick For The Hair Of Black Kids Who Don’t Wanna Be Gangtaz” is a choreo poem piece that follows the story of six poet friends readying themselves for a slam poetry competition. When they take a break from rehearsing,, they travel down a long and weighted path as they play a game, confessing their deepest secrets and fears regarding the Black community.
This piece is an ode to the voices of our younger Black generations. As time evolves, the urge for Black teens to hold their tongue lessens.
Historically, the adolescent voice of the Black community has always been loud but not often heard. We are sexually abused, kidnapped, ostracized, demonized, and forcefully succumb to the cards we are dealt by society.
Our age plus our survival through these experiences make us gangstaz. While our voices continue to be ignored, others inside and outside our community continue to advocate for us with tainted tongues and minds of white supremacy.
I wrote this piece because the younger Black generation’s voices need to be heard unfiltered, whether it makes people uncomfortable or not. For too long, the story of the adolescent Black individual has been told by the older. It has become apparent that for change in our future generations, the younger must step up and reclaim autonomy.
The production’s goal is to curate an appropriate environment to call out the older generation of Black people on their flaws that have negatively impacted their children, grandchildren, etc.
The play was developed over the last year at the Growing Stage Theater in New Jersey and the Pillsbury House and Theatre in Minnesota. It will be performed at the Pillsbury House & Theater from July 18 to 21.
Junie Edwards is a Detroit-born actor and emerging playwright. Acting credits include: “Merrily We Roll Along” (SPCPA); “Diennsel Heart;” “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” (History Theatre); “Marie Antoinette” (Emerging Professional Ensemble); “Something Happened In Our Town;” and “Locomotion” (Children’s Theatre Company).
Writing credits include the 2023 published play “Afroyo” with Drama Notebook, the 2023 Scholastic Silver Key Award, the 2023 New Plays Workshop at Growing Stage in New Jersey, Pillsbury House and Theatre Workshop in Minnesota.