What I liked
Jeremaiah’s opening was visceral, vulnerable, and a truthful depiction of a vicious and brutal time in American History for enslaved peoples. It was shocking, not because of the nudity, but because of the inhumanity. Outside of this, I really appreciate Core’s reclamation of Henson’s voice and heroics which were often swept under the rug by non-black voices.
What I didn't like
Run time could be improved. I think it’s difficult to put together such a large and complex story into the 30 minutes of time Core was given to present it. I would also add in some scene transitions with auditory interjections to add more dynamic moments. This will help further enhance moments in the story to not bleed into each other and give it a little more texture.
My overall impression
The story of Josiah Henson has never been more important to tell, especially in the face our current political climate where histories of Black, Indigenous and other Peoples of Color and marginalized groups are being threatened with erasure. From the VERY moment Jeremiah Core steps on stage, he uproots you from your seat and into the world of Josiah Henson and does not let go until the final beat. The power of Henson’s words is evident and tells just a fraction of some incredibly hard truths this country still has not fully reconciled with.
