“Black Man Rising,” a production of the Chapmyn Spoken Word Theater Company, was one of the events that the Multicultural Educational Resource Center has planned in February as part of Black History Month.

The goals of “Black Man Rising” are to combat the negative stereotypes about black men and to also show audiences the resiliency and strength of black men throughout history.

“I believe the show had some very positive messages, like if we can work with black young boys, then we can help take away negative thoughts [that] they have about themselves,” Carlos Wiley, MERC director, said. “I also believe the messages about the history of what black men have been told about themselves was a good one.”

The play, which was performed at the Pioneer Crossing on Feb. 5, used three actors to present its message. The actors in the play, Jeffro Johnson, Ron Jenkins and D’Ebrar Chapmyn, used no props or costumes in their performance to depict the stories and messages that looked deeply at the struggles facing black men and how they can rise above these stereotypes. The play used a unique style that seemed to please the audience.

“It’s called choreopoetry,” actress D’Ebrar said. “It’s really poetry in motion.”

The play begins with Johnson running between the tables in the Crossing, acting as a boy. He is told that he is “good for nothing” and that he’s a “slothful boy.” The scene continues with a song performed by Chapmyn. Then the actors explained that black men are only ignorant if they believe they are ignorant and that it’s very important to not listen to the negative stereotypes being placed upon them. The play also played out scenarios regarding the stereotypes about black men and violence, guns, how they treat women, as well as absent fathers. The actors performed scenes from different times throughout history including a voyage on a slave ship, being a slave in America, the Civil Rights Movement and contemporary society.

The play showed audiences just how important it is to recognize these stereotypes and how important it is for black men to rise up against them.

“We’re all in need of a healing,” Johnson said. “That’s why we’re here, to be a catalyst for that healing.”