Resurrection, Sun and Wind

Every Saturday, my oldest daughter takes acting classes at The Harlem School of the Arts in Harlem, NY. During the class, my other daughters and I sit in another part of the building where they have Saturday Story time.

Today was an interesting story time. First, we were treated to a preview of a one woman play, based on a book of the same name, called the Resurrection of Alice which is written and performed by Perri Gaffney. It is an interesting story that takes a peak into the practice of arranged marriages as done by black folks prior to 1950. More specifically, it looks, from the outside in, into the life of young black girl whose marriage to a man older than her parents was arranged when she was 17. This young woman was the first in her family to graduate high school and had earned a full ride to college in the 1940's no less. Nonetheless, her parents arranged her marriage and she went on to birth 4 children. The book and the play tell this story. You can learn more at Perri Gaffney's website.

Next on the docket, as I and my other daughter waited for the eldest's acting class to be over, was a storyteller. She told the following story:

The Sun and The Wind were friends and decided to make a friendly bet to see who was the strongest. The conversation went as follows:

Wind: You see that man down there with his coat on?

Sun: Yes. What about him?

Wind: I bet you I am stronger than you are.

Sun: Not a chance.

Wind: Ok. Whoever can make that man take off his coat will be declared the strongest.

Sun: You go first.

Narrator: The wind blew strong winds and rain down on the man. But the more the wind blew the more the man resisted and clung to his coat. The wind could not get the man to take off his coat.

Wind: Ok sun, I can't believe I wasn't successful. Let's see what you can do.

Narrator: The sun came up slowly but happily in the east and the sky began to warm. The man said, 'It is getting warm out here.' But, he did not take off his coat. The sun rose higher in the sky; smiling the whole time. The sky became warmer and so the man unbuttoned his coat. And so the sun rose even higher. The man took one arm out of his coat. Finally, the sun went higher and it became so warm that the man took his coat off. The sun had proven himself stronger.

Narrator: The wind was gracious winner and said to the sun, "You are the strongest."

The storyteller ended by posing the following question: What did the sun know that the wind did not?

So, this is where I leave you today. I look forward to your comments below. I will post my thoughts tomorrow after reading yours.

Best,

-- Rodney