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theatre
“challenging People to Shape
a better future now”
While holding discussions on
race and similar issues isn’t new
to the center (whose full name is
the John Perkins Center for
Reconciliation,
Leadership
Training
and
Community
Development), Warren said that
the play will allow people who
are not normally drawn to these
events to engage in the conversa-
tion.
“When we hold these events,
usually you have people who self-
select,” she said.
But now, Lowe hopes to attract
a more diverse audience to mix
with Taproot’s seasonal ticket
holders, similar to what happened
when the playhouse put on “Gee’s
Bend” several years ago. The play
told the story of a group of
African American quiltmakers
from the Alabama town known, in
the real world, for their most
impressive sewing and patchwork
skills.
“Brownie Points” by Janece
Shaffer runs through June 18
Wednesdays and Thursdays at
b ernie f OSter
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Photographers
Faith russell, amy love, casi wilkerson, and nikki Visel in ‘Brownie Points’ at the taproot
theatre.
7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays
at 8 p.m.
and a Saturday matinee at 2
p.m.
Visit http://taproottheatre.org.
New Caledonia for training.
During a standdown on the
island – Jones’ all Black 810th
and 811th Engineer Aviation bat-
talions were assigned to build
bridges. A weapon carrier fell on
an unsuspecting troop, pinning
him.
“We had all sorts of equipment,
we could have pulled the truck off
him,” he said.
An officer came over and said
we can’t get it off him.
“He pulled out his pistol and
shot him in the head,” says Jones.
If anyone were to ask, ordered
the officer, the murdered troop
died in battle.
“What can you do when you’re
a million miles from home,” Jones
asked. “They shot this kid and we
could’ve gotten him out. I thought
that was dirty. I don’t know if he’s
living now, but I doubt it”
Jones says he never saw that
officer again and thinks that he
probably was killed in action.
In Guadalcanal, Jones says that
it was hot, humid and full of mos-
quitoes. It’s not like the ships
were any better. He said that on
one carrier, the head had over-
flowed sewage into the sleeping
quarters, causing many soldiers to
sleep on deck.
“You couldn’t get any rest,” he
said.
There were weeks when the
entire unit would go without food.
The White officers told the Black
soldiers it was because their food
had been lost at sea, but Jones said
he knew they were lying. He’d
seen the pits where tons of food
had been dumped.
“I started going to different
tribes on the island to get food,”
he said. “Fish and chicken. It
wouldn’t help completely, but it
was something.”
Iwo Jima was the big battle, he
says.
“Our main objective was to
keep the airstrip open,” he said.
Vet
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continued from page 1
join the armed forces. There was
also another reason.
“Money,” he said. “We didn’t
have no money in those days. It
was during the depression.”
Graduating high school from a
rural area in Kansas, his mother
wouldn’t let him join right away.
Finally, at the age of 19, he enlist-
ed in Coffeeville, Kansas and was
sent to basic training in Fort
Leonard Wood.
“Just before basic was finished,
war broke out,” he said. “We were
shipped out the next day to the
South Pacific.”
Heading through the Panama
Canal, onto Australia, Jones and
his crewmates finally landed on
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Read the rest online at
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a
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S eattle J une 2011
If you have an event you want to share
with the community, email it two weeks
in advance to The Skanner at
info@theskanner.com
Wednesday & thursday June 1 & 2
the 2011 wits stuDent reaDings &
celeBrations! Free & open to the public.
emceed by DJ riz rollins of keXP. the readings
feature 50 students from 27 sites in the 2010-11
wits program. Both days start at 6 p.m. the
seattle Public library Downtown seattle.
thursday June2
Page 2 The Seattle Skanner June 1, 2011
south seattle communitY college hosts
congress oF racial eQualitY (core) historY
Presentation: Four original and active members
of core will share their eyewitness accounts and
observations as they tell this story. this event is
free and open to all. noon – 1:30 p.m. olympic
hall theater. south seattle community college,
6000 16th ave s.w.
friday June 3
the seattle PuBlic liBrarY Presents a Free
screening oF sentenceD home. teens are
invited to a free screening of the documentary
film sentenced home from 5 to 8 p.m. at the
rainer Vista neighborhood house, 4410 29th
ave. s.
Sunday June 5
komen Puget sounD health eXPo: the komen
Puget sound health expo sets the stage for an
exciting race for the cure weekend. Free
samples, showcase of new running and sports
apparel. Free and open to the public. 10 a.m. –
6 p.m. seattle center, 305 harrison st.
Wednesday June 8
Young PlaYwright’s FestiVal 2011! new plays
from south shore school and cleveland high
school in staged readings with professional
actors. 3:30 p.m. rainier Valley cultural center,
3315 s. alaska st. Free but will accept a
donation at the door.
Saturday June 11
the seattle PuBlic liBrarY inVites chilDren anD
teens to ParticiPate in a scaVenger hunt! ages
8 to 18 are able to participate. the scavenger
hunt is free and open to all kids. 2 – 4 p.m. at
the north east Branch, 6801 35th ave. ne.