Capturing Joy.

 

When I was in college decades ago studying Anthropology my dream was to travel around the world and document festivals; to find what African people around the world loved. 


This is why when I take photos of Black people for decades I go to festivals where people are happy and take photos.

Can you put my thoughts into a play? 

Absolutely! Here's a one-act play inspired by your dream:


Title: Capturing Joy: A Festival in Every Heart


Characters:

Maya (60s): A seasoned anthropologist with a passion for festivals and Black culture.


Kwame (20s): Maya's energetic research assistant.


Setting:


Maya's cozy apartment. A world map with colorful pins marking various locations is on the wall. Photos of festivals from around the world are displayed prominently.


(Scene opens with Maya sorting photos at a table. Kwame enters with a stack of books.)


Kwame: Professor Johnson, I found those books you requested on the history of Carnival in Trinidad.


Maya: (Smiling) Excellent, Kwame. Thank you! (Gestures to the photos) Look at these vibrant colors, the energy in these faces. This is what I live for.


Kwame: You've traveled to so many incredible festivals! Did you find what you were looking for?


Maya: (Sighs) In a way. What originally drew me to anthropology was this idea - to document festivals around the world, especially those of the African diaspora. I thought, "What do these celebrations tell us about what African people, scattered across continents by a brutal history, hold dear?"


Kwame: But?


Maya: But festivals are just the tip of the iceberg. They're a celebration, a release. What I truly wanted was to capture the essence of joy, of resilience that lives within Black communities across the globe.


Kwame: (Points to the map) So that's why you have photos from everywhere - Rio's Carnival, J'Ouvert in St. Lucia, the Durban Diwali...


Maya: Exactly! These festivals may look different, the music may vary, but the core is the same - a celebration of life, of community, of overcoming struggles.


Kwame: But you mainly photograph happy faces.


Maya: (Nods) Because that's the story I want to tell. Yes, Black history is filled with pain, with injustice. But it's also about triumph, about the enduring spirit. There's beauty and strength in our ability to find joy, even in the face of adversity.


Kwame: (Thinks for a moment) So, you're capturing a festival within each person?


Maya: (Eyes lighting up) Kwame, that's it exactly! These photos aren't just about the events – they capture the joy that lives within us. It's a universal language, a celebration of the human spirit.


(A comfortable silence falls as they both look at the photos.)


Kwame: So, where's the next festival on your list?


Maya: (Grins) Well, there's always one more story to tell. How about we start researching a Juneteenth celebration in the Deep South?


Kwame: (Smiling) Sounds perfect! Let's go capture some joy!


**(The lights fade as Maya and Kwame gather their things, ready for their next adventure.)


This is just a starting point, you can develop the characters further, add scenes depicting specific festivals, or even explore the challenges Maya faces in her work.















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