RCA's Girls Night Out

August 8, 2009 – RCA’s Girls Night Out 

 "I found god in myself & i loved her/i loved her fiercely."---Ntozake Shange

On August 8, 2009 the Ladies of RCA invited the eighth grade girls to experience the words of Ntozake Shange, interpreted by director Jasmine Guy.  

For Colored Girls is a poignant work exploring the "metaphysical dilemma" of  "bein alive & bein a woman & bein colored..."  through the words, gestures, dance, and music of seven ladies representing the colors of the rainbow. 

Language arts teacher, Susan Barnes has long admired the work and thought it a great opportunity for RCA's young ladies to consider the issues they may encounter as women of color.  

Female staff members donned the colors of the rainbow, as would the performers in the play, and bestowed on the eighth grade girls words of wisdom from the text and flowers and gifts in their assigned color.  

The performance was powerful, evoking tears and laughter. The story unfolded in a series of poems choreographed to reflect the uniqueness of the black female body and language. The evening was unforgettable and there was still more to come! 

After the riveting performance, RCA’s young ladies gained access to some of the most gracious and talented women in the arts! The young ladies were able to ask questions about the creative process and the hard-hitting issues brought up in the play. Their questions were serious and thoughtful, inspiring the actors to provide them true nuggets of wisdom; the overall message reinforced by Lady in Orange, Robin Givens: Know you are worthy of  good love.

The impromptu sister-circle included the gifted cast: Danielle Deadyler, Crystal Fox, Robin Givens, Yakini Horn, Nicole Ari Parker , Nevaina Rhodes and Omelika Kuumba; director Ms. Guy and Malinda Williams, who portrayed Tracy "Bird" Van Adams on the Showtime television drama Soul Food; Terri J. Vaughn who played high school secretary Lovita Alizay Jenkins-Robinson on the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show and Chilli from the group TLC.

As our young ladies enter their senior year at the Academy, the ladies of RCA consider it an honor to join grandmothers, mothers, aunts and sisters in preparing our daughters for their woman-walk.