Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, writers and performers of EXODUS the musical.
In America today, there lies a political divide that is clear as the stripes in the national flag. Ever since the 1800’s democracy has been established between Republicans, (made up primarily of the white plantocracy), and the Democrats, (abolitionists, Quakers free slaves).
Occupying the White House and Congress was a slam dunk for the power brokers, until 1964, with the passing of the Civil Rights Act. Thereafter, it was how to entice the black and brown people (the oppressed) to vote Republican.
JAZZ became the infiltrator to the money brokers. Musicians like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, were influencing the political landscape.
The BEATLES loved Rhythm & Blues and Gospel, crafted those sounds into their music, and changed the American teenager. Black Balladeer Sam Cook’s, “A Change Gonna Come” was on the way.
August 1973, some black teenagers took their “slang language” an upgrade of the South Carolina Geechee (African), to music. They called it “rap”, later, HIP HOP.
Born in New York, the black phenomenon was quickly adopted by all the black and brown people. It was not unusual to see all the phases of this, where Chinese, Indian, and Hispanic, hip hopping or breakdancing in public; much to the astonishment of their strait-laced parents.
And now there is MEXODUS, a combination of all these musical genres in a potpourri on the Rio Grande; the history of Mexicans and blacks working together to escape the planetary predators.
Center Stage Baltimore is presenting this through April 2024.
Enjoy the music! HOWEVER, THERE IS A PROFOUND POLITICAL MESSAGE THEREIN. HOPE YOU GET IT!
