"Gem In the Ocean" A Community Discussion

Art is a powerful tool, capable of telling stories in various mediums that reach the ear and soul of the observer. August Wilson art form was writing plays that shed some light on the American plight. Mr. Wilson expressions of art explore the conditions of the exploited African Americans daily routines in life and the challenging conversations that remain silent to some aka McCarthyism one of the unspoken taboo put on people of color communities. "Gem In The Ocean" explores the deep disconnect lost in industry development and the concrete jungle.

When exploring "Gem In The Ocean" i think about what a gem is and how lost the gem could be in an ocean. I know that Gems are precious stones. I've learned that these colored stones are labeled into groups, species, and varieties much like people of color. i google gem and "GEMS" Girls Educational & Mentoring Services comes up. GEMS has helped hundreds of young women and girls, ages 12–24, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and to develop to their full potential. GEMS provides young women with empathetic, consistent support and viable opportunities for positive change.


Examining Ester one of the main characters in all of August Wilson plays. i recognize the representation of the superstition legacy. She has very little respect for the law because the law didn't respect her or other African Americans. Her loathsome state appears when talking to Cesar the black crooked police officer. Ester use her bill of sale to escort people to the land of bones where people tongues are on fire. Then lines from Stevie Wonder song "Superstition" pops into my head: "When you believe in things that you don't understand, / Then you suffer, / Superstition ain't the way…"

The community conversation is part of the August Wilson and Beyond class. A partnership between The University of Pennsylvania Netter Center for Community Partnership and The West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. I really enjoy the class and community conversations. The classroom conversations dissect the symbolism in the plays where as the community conversation allows for intergenerational sharing of life experiences with more members from the community who may not attend the classes. This living history often not recorded outside of the art form, is exposed and shared. My cultural knowledge expands every year after attending, listening and sharing our life experience. Some of us have expressed the healing that takes place during the community conversation. Filling culture gaps is healing that creates understanding for who i am in the African American and The United States of America cultures. August Wilson created plays that can guide us out of the disconnected communities. We have a catalyst via the August Wilson and Beyond partnership building connected communities within the West Philadelphia neighborhood and Beyond!!

http://www.gems-girls.org/gems-shop#the-survivors-guide-to-leaving