"Defiance! The Spelman Years" - Attend a Live Performance (2 Points)

    

    In Celebration of "I Will Not Bend an Itch" by Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, actor and writer Sylvia Ann Soares performed a solo dramatic rendition of Prophet's life on stage in the Rockefeller Arts Center. Through a monologue format Soares depicted the life and struggle of Nancy Elizabeth Prophet and how her love for sculpture shaped her life choices. Additionally, the show focused on how her identity as a Black and Native American women affected her outlook on life from her work to even her time at Spelman. 

    While the performance was amazing, what What stuck with me most were the thematic aspects of the Prophet's life. I admired her perseverance and commitment to her craft and her passion. At some times she would invest more resources into her craft than into herself or her well-being. At one point she has no money for food and must eat from a dog bowl to nourish herself. 

    While this is an extreme example, I find it admirable to see an individual strive for their passion instead of settling for the sake of their security. I think many people could learn from the experiences of Nancy Elizabeth Prophet, even myself, as it seems that many modern individuals would rather stive for financial success or security before doing things that truly inspire them. 

    There is no doubt that sacrifices were made for Nancy Elizabeth Prophet to follow her passions but she rarely faltered in her decision to do so. This inspires me as at times it can seem asinine to follow my own passions blindly and without clear reason, but knowing that it is possible and achievable gives I have a strong sense of peace. To play devil's advocate however, I can understand how the idea of sacrificing personal security for what may be a completely unattainable result may seem incoherent but the underlying message of blind radical perseverance is incredibly impactful. 

 By Olivia Liddie