Liberian Girl

Liberian Girl
Author: Diana Nneka Atuona
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 90
Release: 2015-10-08
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1474276555

Every single one of you has been chosen for this great moment, you are revolutionary freedom fighters, changing your future, one day at a time. This is for you, it's all for you and don't you ever forget that! Set during the early years of the First Liberian Civil War (1989 – 1996), this startling debut play by Diana Nneka Atuona tells the story of fourteen-year-old Martha who flees her country, disguised as a boy, when it's invaded by rebels. Investigated and cruelly interrogated, she is separated from her grandmother as they attempt to escape the conflict under false identities and, convincing in her boy's apparel, Martha is forced to join the rebels' army. Exposed to the violence of this brutal and seemingly misguided conflict, both as victim and perpetrator, Martha's experience of the First Liberian Civil War is one of excessive cruelty and, in particular, abuse against female prisoners of war. Liberian Girl received its world premiere at the Royal Court Upstairs, London in December 2014. This second edition was published post-production with some changes to the original script.

Liberian Girl

Liberian Girl
Author: Diana Nneka Atuona
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 106
Release: 2015-03-17
Genre: Drama
ISBN: 1474218261

Set during the early years of the First Liberian Civil War (1989 – 1996), this startling debut play by Diana Nneka Atuona tells the story of fourteen-year-old Martha who flees her country, disguised as a boy, when it's invaded by rebels. Investigated and cruelly interrogated, she is separated from her grandmother as they attempt to escape the conflict under false identities and, convincing in her boy's apparel, Martha is forced to join the rebels' army. Exposed to the violence of this brutal and seemingly misguided conflict, both as victim and perpetrator, Martha's experience of the First Liberian Civil War is one of excessive cruelty and, in particular, abuse against female prisoners of war. Liberian Girl received its world premiere at the Royal Court Upstairs, London in December 2014.

Michael Jackson: All the Songs

Michael Jackson: All the Songs
Author: François Allard
Publisher: Cassell
Total Pages: 608
Release: 2018-10-04
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1788401239

Please note: this edition is text only and does not contain images. This is the full story of every single song that Michael Jackson recorded and released during his long and remarkable solo career. With fascinating stories and detailed information on every track - as well as key early songs with The Jackson Five and his legendary dance moves and videos - All the Songs is the complete history of one of the greatest musical legacies of all time. Arranged chronologically by album, expert authors Lecocq and Allard explore the details behind early hits such as ABC and I Want You Back, to solo masterpieces such as Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Billie Jean, Beat It, Smooth Criminal, Black or White, This Is It and more - including outtakes, duets and rare tracks. Explore the magic behind the King of Pop's music with this in-depth, captivating book.

Mighty Be Our Powers

Mighty Be Our Powers
Author: Leymah Gbowee
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia
Total Pages: 28
Release: 2011
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0732294088

Mighty be their Powers chronicles the unthinkable violence Leymah Gbowee has faced throughout her life and the peace she has helped to broker by empowering her country women and others around the world to take action and change History.

Liberia's Women Veterans

Liberia's Women Veterans
Author: Leena Vastapuu
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 233
Release: 2018-03-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1786990822

The Liberian civil wars of the 1990s and 2000s became notorious for their atrocities, and for the widespread use of child soldiers. Girls and young women accounted for up to 40 per cent of these soldiers, but their unique perspective and experiences have largely been excluded from accounts of the conflict. In Liberia's Women Veterans, Leena Vastapuu uses an innovative auto-photographic methodology to tell the story of two of Africa's most brutal civil wars through the eyes of 133 female former soldiers. Incorporating their testimonies alongside a series of vivid illustrations by Emmi Nieminen, the book provides an in-depth account of these women's experiences of trauma, stigma, and the challenges of reintegration into post-war society, as well as their hopes and aspirations for the future. Vastapuu argues that these women, too often been perceived merely as passive victims of the conflict, can in fact play an important role in post-war reconciliation and peace-building. Overturning gendered perceptions of warfare and militarism, the book provides a unique take on humanitarian practices and post-conflict societies, making essential reading for policymakers as well as students and scholars across the humanities and social sciences.

Difficult Dialogues about Twenty-First-Century Girls

Difficult Dialogues about Twenty-First-Century Girls
Author: Donna Marie Johnson
Publisher: SUNY Press
Total Pages: 332
Release: 2015-10-09
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1438455976

Introduces new conceptual frameworks for girls’ studies. Presenting cutting-edge research from transnational scholars and activists, Difficult Dialogues about Twenty-First-Century Girls introduces original methodologies and girl-centered program design to the field of girls’ studies. The editors pair progressive girls’ studies research on topics such as differential privilege, voice, cultural values, and access to material resources, with provocative questions in order to further the thinking about issues that are often marginalized or overlooked in feminist domains. In addition, the book serves as a manual for educators and activists, designed to promote critical discussions that are accessible and includes a final dialogue with contemporary scholars about their work and the current direction of the field.

Black Women Centre Stage

Black Women Centre Stage
Author: Paola Prieto López
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 186
Release: 2023-12-13
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1003824927

This book examines the political alliances that are built across the diaspora in contemporary plays written by Black women playwrights in the UK. Through the concept of creative diasporic solidarity, it offers an innovative theoretical approach to examine the ways in which the playwrights respond creatively to the violence and marginalisation of Black communities, especially Black women. This study demonstrates that theatre can act as a productive space for the ethical encounter with the Other (understood in terms of alterity, as someone different from the self) by examining the possibilities of these plays to activate the spectators’ responsibility and solidarity towards different types of violence experienced by Black women, offering alternative modes of relationality. The book engages with a range of contemporary works written by Black women playwrights in the UK, including Mojisola Adebayo, Theresa Ikoko, Diana Nneka Atuona, Gloria Williams, Charlene James, or Yusra Warsama, bringing to the fore a gendered and intersectional approach to the analysis of the texts. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars in contemporary theatre, gender studies and diaspora studies.

The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson

The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson
Author: Elizabeth Amisu
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2016-09-26
Genre: Music
ISBN: 1440838658

An essential companion to Michael Jackson's music, films, and books, this work offers 21 original, academic essays on all things Jackson-from film, music, and dance to fashion, culture, and literature. Going well beyond the average celebrity biography, this comprehensive book looks at why Jackson is regarded as one of the most important musicians of our time, offering insights into every facet of his art, life, and artistic afterlife. It looks at the methods by which his work was created, presented, received, and appropriated; discusses Jackson's varied personas along with his public and private appearances, albums, conceptual art, short films, and dance; and considers his use of costume, makeup, and reinvention. To help readers understand the phenomenon that was-and is-Michael Jackson, the book focuses on Jackson's historical context through an analysis of his films, songs, and books, examining him as an artist and shedding light on the political and ideological debates that surrounded him. Not shying away from the controversial aspects of Jackson's life and legacy, it also tackles questions of sexuality and racism, gender, and class, comparing Jackson to artists ranging from J. S. Bach to Andy Warhol. Through its examination of Jackson's entire catalog, the work connects all the aspects of his art and life to exemplify-and explain-the performer's unparalleled influence in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Child Soldiers

Child Soldiers
Author: Michael Wessells
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Total Pages: 309
Release: 2009-03-31
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0674032551

Compelling and humane, this book reveals the lives of the 300,000 child soldiers around the world, challenging stereotypes of them as predators or a lost generation. Kidnapped or lured by the promise of food, protection, revenge, or a better life, children serve not only as combatants but as porters, spies, human land mine detectors, and sexual slaves. Nearly one-third are girls, and Michael Wessells movingly reveals the particular dangers they face from pregnancy, childbirth complications, and the rejection they and their babies encounter in their local contexts. Based mainly on participatory research and interviews with hundreds of former child soldiers worldwide, Wessells allows these ex-soldiers to speak for themselves and reveal the enormous complexity of their experiences and situations. The author argues that despite the social, moral, and psychological wounds of war, a surprising number of former child soldiers enter civilian life, and he describes the healing, livelihood, education, reconciliation, family integration, protection, and cultural supports that make it possible. A passionate call for action, Child Soldiers pushes readers to go beyond the horror stories to develop local and global strategies to stop this theft of childhood.

The Influence of Dramatic Arts on Literacies for Black Girls in Middle School

The Influence of Dramatic Arts on Literacies for Black Girls in Middle School
Author: Portia M. York
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 133
Release: 2022-11-28
Genre: Education
ISBN: 166690760X

For urban middle school Black girls to fit in educational settings and society they must be seen and understood in their unique ways. They must be able to utilize certain literacies that assist with navigating what they say and how they speak, their confidence, expressions, and identities, as Black girls in these settings. In The Influence of Dramatic Arts on Literacies for Black Girls in Middle School, York demonstrates the impact that practicing drama strategies has on foundational, digital, and identity literacies for middle school Black girls. Personal stories of Black girls are shared on how drama strategies help them navigate discrimination, racist and misogynistic slurs, and even support their self confidence and public speaking. The basis of these stories are told through a Black feminist thought lens, which York uses to take readers through surprising drama strategies that Black girls adopt to help them become resilient and confident while embracing themselves fully. Readers will see the benefits of Black girls practicing drama in a safe space guided by a drama teacher that is a Black women who chooses culturally relevant pedagogy for her students.