Photo by Yvonne Kemp
On Sunday, February 26, 2023, CAPITA Productions, Inc., presented what was to be its final performance of its 29th season of “We are the Drum.” This performance took place before a sold-out audience at Milwaukee Marshall High School. The public has expressed its desire for an encore performance which occurred on Saturday, March 4th at 4:00 p.m.
CAPITA was established in 1990 under the leadership of the late Arlene Skwierawski, long-time educator and music teacher at North Division High School and late Brother Booker Ashe, founder of the House of Peace.
For the first time CAPITA has created a “We Are The Drum Award (WATD)” in order to honor four local individuals or organizations annually that have demonstrated a long history of:
· Chronicling and preserving historic achievements of African Americans.
· Conducting compelling research that educates on and supports means to eradicate disparity issues that are plaguing the African American community.
· Developing social outreach programs that uplift people of color.
· Performing community service that is parallel to CAPITA’s mission which includes promoting awareness and racial harmony.
The inaugural WATD awardees for 2023 are: Clayborn Benson for “Exceptional Black History Research and Preservation;” Reuben Harpole for “Exceptional Social Justice Advocacy, Historian, and The Griot;” Lynda Jackson Conyers for “Exceptional Journalism and Reporting of Black Excellence;” and Reggie Jackson for “Exceptional Research and Education on the Impacts of Systemic Racial Injustice.”
