Speak the Truth. The name of the event alone is powerful, but the message behind it extends far beyond the name and into the realm of social justice.
On Wednesday, March 21, six members of the University of Alabama Speech Team will present speeches and oral interpretations of various literature selections during the first Speak the Truth event. The speeches will be persuasion pieces, through which students try to encourage a change within the audience members, and communication analysis pieces, through which students interpret films, music, events or other artistic expressions that inspire change.
“Each performance is meant to raise a question or bring to light something,” said student participant Austin McDonald.
Some of the oral interpretations will be dramatic or poetic. Despite the different forms these oral presentations take, all will address socially-relevant issues. That social relevance is the emphasis of forensics team performances. McDonald said the performers strive to make the material relevant to the audience who rarely see the forensics team’s artistic expression. The team travels at least once a month and doesn’t often perform on campus.
“I enjoy performing especially,” McDonald said, “because it’s a good chance to give exposure to people who don’t know what this is about.”
The event began in the mind of Stephen Black, Director of the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility. To him, it just “seemed like a good idea.”
The performance allows the forensics team, coached by Frank Thompson, and the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility to work together on their common belief in the importance and the power of the narrative.
“One part of being a person of strong morals and ethics is feeling responsibility for another human being,” Black said.
Members Amanda Brasher, Taylor Curtis, Nick Fox, Sonequa Martin, Austin McDonald and Alyssa Reinecker will perform at 7 p.m. in the Ferguson Theater.
