Theatre company Will & Company showed Loyola students and faculty that the words “black history” are more than just a phrase on Feb. 17.

Actors performing in the monologue, “Portraits of Courage,” portrayed a clearly defined path to freedom, one that highlighted the struggles of African Americans along the way.   

Sponsored by the Office of Co-Curricular Programs, the Black Student Union, the Center for Intercultural Understanding and Residential Life, “Portraits of Courage” guided the Loyola community through black struggles and victories such as voting rights and integration. The production, which consisted of six monologues, has been performed all over the United States.

But that night, it was Loyola’s opportunity to learn history.

Loyola band Priority 147 filled the St. Charles Room with sounds of up-tempo jazz as students and faculty, dressed for the occasion, enjoyed a “soul food” dinner. 

The lights began to dim as actors Chris Maddox and Kenyetta Lethridge took the stage to begin the history that Colin Cox, playwright of “Portraits of Courage” said “we should all know about.” One of the black entrepreneurs high lighted during the monologues was Madame CJ Walker, a self-made hair-care millionaire. Students said that these monologues taught them a lot about Walker and other black leaders.

“I learned a lot about African American culture… I enjoyed learning about Madame CJ because I think society viewed her as tainted,” said Whitney Evans, psychology pre-med junior.

Other black leaders featured were Col. Charles Young, the first African American man to have the title of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States army, and voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. 

“Watching Fannie Lou Hamer’s monologue made me realize how far women have come since having the right to vote and that we’ve come a long way,” said Andreca Johnson, vocal performance freshman.

Black inventors, like Lewis Latimer, inventor of a railroad-car toilet system, took the main stage alongside other activists like Ida B. Wells, who led lynching riots. Bass Reeves, who became known as the first deputy marshal west of the Mississippi River, was also feature.   Cox said he wrote “Portraits of Courage” because these little known facts about black pioneers are not always covered in high school history books.

“I wanted to throw out the history books and ask, where are the African Americans in our history?” said Cox. 

Cox said that his experiences touring with the play have been rewarding. After one show at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Cox said he felt proud after an audience member commented on the lessons she and her family learned during the play:

“Thank you for teaching my sons what they can become.”

And, like in Alaska, at Loyola that Monday, the lesson of black history continued.

Jess Burrola can be reached at [email protected].

Students react to a rap performed at Portraits of Courage on Feb. 17 in the St. Charles Room. The event promoted black history and awareness.