Janice Curtis Greene as Harriet Tubman. Greene will speak as Tubman at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Potomac Community Center. The free program is sponsored by Potomac Community Village and is open to all.
The public is invited to hear Janis Curtis Greene, a nationally noted storyteller, as she recounts the life and stories of Harriet Tubman. Born a slave, Tubman escaped and rescue an estimated 70 enslaved people, including family and friends, using a network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.
Greene, also known as Janice the Griot (storyteller), is known for her storytelling and her portrayals of historic African American women.
The program is sponsored by Potomac Community Village, a nonprofit “neighbor helping neighbor” organization begun to help Potomac residents stay in their homes as they age.
Marcia Akresh, Chair of Programs for Potomac Community Village, said the group tries to have a speaker or special program once a month.
She said she visited the Harriet Tubman museum in Cambridge, Maryland and thought it was wonderful.
“Everyone thinks they know Harriet Tubman,” she said. “But it’s just about how she lived, what it was like [to be enslaved].”
Though she has never heard Greene perform, Akresh is excited about the upcoming program with Greene taking on the persona of Tubman.
Greene has a long history of storytelling and learning about Tubman.
“About 30 years ago,” Greene said, “I began listening to Mother Mary Carter Smith on WEAA Morgan University radio. Her program was called, "Griot for the Young and Young at Heart." Later I was asked to tell a story at a Kwanzaa event, and I used a story from an anthology of African tales, and everyone thought I was a professional. So, I embarked on a career of Storytelling. I joined the Griots' Circle of Maryland and the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS) both of which were founded by Mother Mary Carter Smith. I later became the President of the Griots' Circle and am now serving as the President of NABS.”
In the African tradition a Griot inherits his or her title from a family member but that was not the case for Greene.
“I am not from a family of storytellers; however, most families, especially African American families, have histories that are not written and are only passed down orally,” she wrote.
She said that Harriet Tubman was her first historical re-enactment, one she has done for almost 20 years, “using that time to delve more deeply into her character.”
“To me Harriet Tubman is the bravest person in history. She was a colored, enslaved woman, with a disability after her blow to the head. She was illiterate and usually had barely enough money to live on. She never used any of those as an excuse not to help somebody. Her life was completely selfless, pouring herself out like a libation,” Greene said. “In a time when so much is wrong, I want people to look at Harriet Tubman and draw on her strength to do the right thing, to have the courage to stand up to fight injustice, prejudice, racism, hatred and so many other issues that plague our world. I want the audience to see Harriet Tubman as a person who believed in God to direct her path. I want them to learn at least one thing that they did not know about Harriet Tubman than they knew before the program.”
“Walk a Mile in My Shoes,” the Harriet Tubman story, will be held from 7-9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24 at the Potomac Community Recreation Center, 11315 Falls Road. The program is free and open to all. For more information call 240-221-1370.
Q&A
Q: Are you from a family of storytellers? I read that a griot is an inherited position.
A: I am not from a family of Storytellers; however, most families, especially African American families, have histories that are not written and are only passed down orally.
Q: Did you grow up in Baltimore?
A: Yes, I grew up in West Baltimore. I am Catholic and was taught by the Oblate Sisters of Providence. They are the first permanent, vowed order of religious women of African descent. I am honored to portray their foundress, Mother Mary Lange, O.S.P. as well as many other Historic African American women
Q: How did you start your career as storyteller?
A: About 30 years ago I began listening to Mother Mary Carter Smith on WEAA Morgan University radio. Her program was called, "Griot for the Young and Young at Heart." Later I was asked to tell a story at a Kwanzaa event and I used a story from an anthology of African tales and everyone thought I was a professional. So I embarked on a career of Storytelling. I joined the Griots' Circle of Maryland and the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS) both of which were founded by Mother Mary Carter Smith. I later became the President of the Griots' Circle and am now serving as the President of the National Association of Black Storytellers.
Harriet Tubman was my first historical re-enactment and I have been performing as Nana Harriet for about 20 years using that time to delve more deeply into her character.
Q: What do you hope your audience will take from your performance, specifically the Potomac Community Village, which is mostly seniors?
A: To me Harriet Tubman is the bravest person in history. She was a colored, enslaved woman, with a disability after her blow to the head. She was illiterate and usually had barely enough money to live on. She never used any of those as an excuse not to help somebody. Her life was completely selfless, pouring herself out like a libation.
In a time when so much is wrong, I want people to look at Harriet Tubman and draw on her strength to do the right thing, to have the courage to stand up to fight injustice, prejudice, racism, hatred and so many other issues that plague our world. I want the audience to see Harriet Tubman as a person who believed in God to direct her path. I want them to learn at least one thing that they did not know about Harriet Tubman than they knew before the program.