Category: Insights

This young lady, Sy Fortes is the daughter of Mr. Mark and Mrs. Charmaine Firtes. Our first encounter with Sky and her family happened when she came to the Perkins School to compete in a talent search. Her voice was a warm surprise as she sang a song that was recorded before she was born. She sang “At Last,” by the late Etta James. She won a prize and she would later become a member of the Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program along with her father. It has been such a pleasant journey for all involved as she grew with the Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program Company and other learning institutions with her winning honors and making friends. Sky is a lead singer and active member of her church, Greater Anointing Harvest Church in Dorchester.
Education and doing well is a pursuit for the young talented young lady as she writes poetry and plays the piano. She graduated from the Boston Arts Academy and remained in the Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program Company performing as an actor and singer in “The Harlem Renaissance Revisited With a Gospel Flavor” was well received in the community and other places outside of Boston where it was performed. Sky is a 2025 graduate of Emerson College where she earned a four year scholarship to attend and remained on the Dean’s List her entire four years. She was very active in school productions and according to Professor Eric Weiff, Dean of the Theater Department Sky was an impressive student, well respected by him and others in the Emerson College community,  Sky received her National Honor Society pin at her graduation. Please keep an eye out for Sky Fortes as we will for she is  a talent on the move singing and acting with a freshness that can be adored and appreciated.

PRESS RELEASE:
The citizens in Holly Springs paid tribute to Ida B. Wells and named a street in her honor and for her service to America. Ms Wells was a journalist during some of the most racially challenging times in American History. She was a founding member of the Niagara Falls Movement that later became the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Shown posing in the picture is Ms Annie Moffitt, Founder and owner of Annie’s Restaurant. Ms. Moffitt is a business and community activist and supports education, especially the Harlem Renaissance Era which was a part of the life of Ida B. Wells life.
PS Ida B. Wells was one of the characters in the play “Happy Birthday Ms Harriet Tubman,” a play about Blalck Women organizing t0 gain the vote after helping white women written by Haywood Fennell, Sr. and performed under the direction of Mrs, Monica Anderson-Spencer. The play was performed by the Oscar Micheaux Family Theater Program Company.

PRESS RELEASE:
Seen is Ms Annie Moffitt, a business woman and community leader dressed in honor of Ida B. Wells who was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Ms Wells had a career as a national leader and journalist. She was one of the Niagara Falls Movement that would it’s name to the National Advancement for Colored People. Ms Moffitt was a participant in the street renaming in honor of Ida B. Wells in her home town of Holly Springs.

PRESS RELEASE:
The most compelling (my opinion) in the history of the United States is the history of the Harlem Renaissance Era. It is about a history that has surged over the barriers of capture for we were NEVER slaves, racist laws and hate to catch up and seed minds to think spiritual and worthy as our Ancestors stepped up. We are here!!!. They were told, NO, NEVER and that did not stop them. Not being paid and chased from the stage as white entertainers put grease paint on their faces but their voices or talent was no match.
Some went to Europe, but Europewas not their home. They came back. (Some stayed like La Baker aka Josephine Baker). She became a French hero and a hero in her native land, America. Our history is nomstery. Come out and bring a friend. read the attached flyer and call for what will be an experience that you will never forget. This is our 25th year and we are honored and blessed to have the Department of Africana Music department at Berklee College of Music providing technical and theatertric resources for revising thhe play making it more exciting using HipHop and other production values to entertain and educate. Looking forward to seeing you.

of splashing water could be heard with images of bodies being thrown into watery graves in chains there were no screams, only silence as they were moved from the land of freedom to a darkness of slavery. To be sold and later branded with a hot iron claiming ownership and a denial of who they were as those once in the watery graves spirits rise, we hear.
Hhaywood Fennell, Sr. Remembering that nobody wants to be us, but we are everyone May 1st 2022
Please get involved with reading books written by Haywood Fennell, Sr. by ordering direct. Simply submit the book title and number of books to haywoodfennell4@gmail.com and we will get your order to you with your invoice.