The Desk.

Tonight I went to the first rehearsal for the Black History play I'm in, and it was absolutely inspring, but not for the obvious reasons (I grew up in East Winston, I'm quite familiar with the history of the AME Zion church.) Anyway, She's one of the most amazing people I've ever met. She can't be older than twelve, and here's she's written an episodic tribute to the history of Black Christianity, organized its production, and is directing people of all ages to play in it. She's gotten two dozen or so of her parishoners to play the roles, and has coordinated all the rehearsals and everything, and even made the effort to reach out to get outsiders like me and a few other UNCW students involved to fill White roles. On the phone she talked to me like a professional director and told me everything I needed to know. She has approached sensitive issues like slavery and the civil rights movement with respect and a fair eye, and is able to bring these things into to the play in a serious but not depressing way. She's really running the whole show, telling everybody how to play their characters, getting people ready before they go on, and even filling in to read for the people who aren't there. There's not a shy bone in her body, and she's got the sense to channel her tremendous energy into making this production. At her age I still hadn't learned how to hold a conversation, and I have to say I'm genuinely inspired by this girl.