Freedom Stories
Gifted storyteller TAHIRA shares tales of freedom fighters in this dramatic performance. A compelling look at the people who took extraordinary risks for freedom, the program can be tailored to highlight such topics as:
- The Civil Rights Movement
- Includes biographical narratives about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Harry and Harriette Moore, educators and NACCP members whose assassinations sparked the movement.
- Black women in history
- Includes information such as human rights activist, Ella Baker
- Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis in 1960.
- The Underground Railroad
- Includes freedom songs, such as “John the Rabbit,” which contained coded messages used by enslaved Africans to devise a plan of escape.
- Also, includes the story of Henry “Box” Brown who escaped enslavement by mailing himself in a box from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Juneteenth Also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved Africans in the United States.
- TAHIRA shares stories centering the resilience, perseverance, and strength of Africans in America leading up to Emancipation, as well as songs and stories of the continued courage and determination they still demonstrated in their quest for racial equity.
Program Info
Grades: K - 8
Audience Limit: 250
Program Length: 45 min.
Pricing Details
Assembly Price: $1,075
Assembly Two-in-a-Row Price: $1,425
Travel Fee: $95/day
- American History Month
- Black History Month
- Universal Human Rights Month
- Social Studies & World Cultures
- Theatre
2 mics with sound on an adjustable height stands or one lavalier microphone. 2 chairs
What Our Partners Are Saying
Principal
PRIDE Academy Charter
PRIDE Academy Charter
“TAHIRA was a gem!! She showed up early to set up, had everything ready to go with plenty of time to spare! She was motivating, engaging and captivating with her storytelling and songs! Our students and staff had so many great comments and reactions to the performance! As always, thank you for the recommendations and we look forward to more performances in the future!”
Teacher
Branchburg Central Middle School
Branchburg Central Middle School
“Thank you so much for coming to our school and helping our students learn about important stories of freedom and Black history. Thank you also for perfectly and gently incorporating a tailored message about the power of our words.”
Art Teacher, assembly coordinator
Samuel Mickle School
Samuel Mickle School
“TAHIRA was amazing!!! From the youngest to old, the audience was captivated. Her message was powerful. Students were still talking about the assembly today....she made a lasting impression. Thank you it was exactly what we were looking for to start of Black History Month.”
Principal
Eleanor Rush School
Eleanor Rush School
“TAHIRA was not only entertaining, she was insightful and inspiring. Even as a virtual presenter, she captivated our audience, both students and staff. I particularly liked when she educated us about the language used and how the word "captives" better describes the experiences of Africans taken into slavery. That will stay with me.”
SHRSD Director of Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction
SHRSD Director of Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction
“The program was really wonderful... TAHIRA did a great job of adjusting the content and the stories for the different age groups appropriately... thank you!”
Vice Principal
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School
“TAHIRA was great! The students enjoyed her performance. The staff thought she was excellent.”
Principal
PRIDE Academy Charter
PRIDE Academy Charter
“I truly enjoyed the performance. After returning to class, one of my male students shared that he was so touched by the Langston Hughes poem that he teared up. I would never have thought he would say such a thing! Teacher, Jefferson School Tahira was amazing!!! From the youngest to old, the audience was captivated. Her message was powerful. Students were still talking about the assembly today....she made a lasting impression. Thank you it was exactly what we were looking for to start of Black History Month. Art Teacher, assembly coordinator, Samuel Mickle School Thank you so much for coming to our school and helping our students learn about important stories of freedom and Black history. Thank you also for perfectly and gently incorporating a tailored message about the power of our words.. Teacher, Branchburg Central Middle School TAHIRA did an AMAZING job! We are so thankful to you, her, and Young Audiences for this avenue of uplifting and showcasing different cultures through various mediums.. Principal & Staff, Burnet Hill Elementary School TAHIRA was a gem!! She showed up early to set up, had everything ready to go with plenty of time to spare! She was motivating, engaging and captivating with her storytelling and songs! Our students and staff had so many great comments and reactions to the performance! As always, thank you for the recommendations and we look forward to more performances in the future!.”
Special Ed. Teacher
Pennwood Middle School
Pennwood Middle School
“We are so thankful that we had TAHIRA as our guest performer yesterday. The students truly enjoyed her! They have gained expertise, exposure and experience in the area of storytelling and oral traditions. Our students were actively engaged the entire performance and could not stop talking about it the rest of the school day.”
