Welcome to www. Ethel Pitts Walker .com
To open Black History Month 2009 for the 2nd annual San Jose performing arts series www.AfricanAmericanHolidaySeason.com, African American Drama Company of California Executive Director Dr. ETHEL PITTS WALKER offered her nationally recognized lecture Am I Still African on February 7 at San Jose’s African American Community Service Agency. CONTACT: (415) 378-0064 or DRAMART@comcast.net.
Dr. Walker’s San Jose State University 2006-2007 Outstanding Professor Award photo
www.sjsu.edu/news/news_detail.jsp?id=2170
ABOUT THE Am I Still African LECTURE
“African Americans must never forget that they are as much ‘African’ as ‘American’, and since ‘American’ is a blend of many cultures, that ‘Africaness’ is seemingly predominant. Individuals are a product of their cultural base, so one must have some sense of cultural history in order to develop positive self-esteem and be confident of self. This lecture-discussion focuses on some aspects of African culture which have continued in African American life, and thus, provides a link with the past. Unless one understands the historical nature of African Americans in this country, their historical cultural mores, their historical need for survival and their survival tools adopted, Black inferiority arguments are likely to abound. Always mindful of the duplicity of Black Americans’ existence in this country, it is necessary to remind individuals that African culture was never completely wiped out. Even after 300 years in the new world, elements of that ancient culture ring out in the daily lives of Black people in the United States. It is imperative that African Americans not be afraid or ashamed to acknowledge these qualities, and be mindful of the role African culture plays in their lives and throughout the world.”
Ethel Pitts Walker is the current Chair of Television, Radio, Film and Theatre at San Jose State University where she was a 1999-2000 Teacher Scholar. With her student’s work appearing in last year’s Sundance film festival, this year they show a film in the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival. Next school year she directs a play for the Department.
A former San Francisco Arts Commissioner, selected past accomplishments include: Elected as one of four 2008 University of Missouri College of Arts & Science Distinguished Alumna and a National Black Theatre Festival 2001 Living Legend. This Black Theatre Network two term Founding President was also a CA Educational Theatre Association and CA Legislative Action Coalition for Arts Education former President. In 1999 the American College Theatre Festival honored Walker with its Theatre in Excellence Award plus she was inducted into the national Educational Theatre Association Hall of Fame in 2000. Featured on the cover of Black Masks’ July/August 2000 issue, in 2002 Dr. Walker was inducted into The College of Fellows of the American Theatre at the Kennedy Center. Ethel has authored several plays and articles in addition to two books: New/Lost Plays by Ed Bullins: An Anthology and African American Scenebook. With numerous directing credits, not the least of which being AADC’s Can I Speak For You Brother? at www.BlackHistoryMonthSpeaker.com, she served as dramaturge for Theatre Works’ production of Old Settler.
CONTACT: www.AfricanAmericanDramaCompany.org (408) 216-9877 or DRAMART@aol.com for additional info