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.”