Poster promoting The Margaret Garner Opera Photos courtesy, Auditoriumtheatre.org

The true story of Margaret Garner is quite a fascinating and riveting example of just how gruesome the circumstances were for Black people who were physically enslaved in America, especially the Black woman. Margaret Garner was a fugitive slave from Kentucky, and in January of 1856, she killed one of her children rather than witness her return to slavery. Similarly, in this depiction of Margaret Garner’s life, Toni Morrison, who was responsible for writing the libretto, slightly revises the story, making it more or less like a heart-wrenching love story, set during slavery. Through the artistic medium of opera, the M.U.I. students saw the dramatization of a slave auction block and how the Black family was tried severely by the slave-master. Based upon the unraveling of this story, they were also able to try on the shoes of a mother who was so traumatically affected by her life as a slave that she prohibited her children from such a dismal reality.

Some highlights of this academic enrichment tour include the students meeting and taking pictures with Mr. Kenny Leon, “who returned to Michigan Opera Theatre, to direct Margaret Garner, after directing its world premiere with the company in 2005. A highly acclaimed actor, producer, Mr. Leon’s experience covers the spectrum from television to stage to film. He is the founder and artistic director of True Colors Theatre Company, prior to which he was artistic director of Alliance Theatre Company in Atlanta for 11 years. He has directed three Broadway productions, beginning with the 2004 revival of “A Raisin in the Sun,” which featured Sean Combs, Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad; the show garnered two Tony Awards” (Program 7). Prior to the show, Mr. Leon complimented the students of Muhammad University of Islam on their excellent behavior. It was clear to him that the M.U.I. students were being taught the importance of being disciplined. He also was quite impressed with the uniforms of the brothers—the blue slacks, the blue blazer, the white shirt and the blue bowtie. Then, during the intermission, he even took the time to briefly talk to the older students—Sister Racheal Abdullah and Brother Shahid Muhammad. After asking who are some of the writers in the group, he spoke about the importance of the need for great Black writers, stating that there is not enough Black writers in Hollywood who can tell our stories. Then, when one of the teachers asked him what inspired him to direct this opera, Mr. Leon graciously stated that “at the foundation of what ails our country and this presidential election—we have not yet healed from racism. In using the medium of opera to move us forward—the expectation of grandness here—it is important to tell this story. Taking ownership and responsibility of slavery happening” is another key point that he mentioned. Finally, in relation to this project, Kenny Leon also expressed the great admiration he has for Ms. Toni Morrison, by claiming that “Toni Morrison is the truth.”

This resounding truth was experienced by the older students of Muhammad University of Islam in this opportunity for them to attend The Margaret Garner Opera. And this experience really resonated with the male students, especially with the fact that during this historical time period of enslavement, the Black man was not able to protect or to properly maintain his family; and then, for the female students—to see a Black woman, not have complete control over the fate of her children’s lives or herself. She was at the behest of the slave-master and not her husband.

These students had a firsthand experience in bearing witness to the power that lies in the Black man and woman in America knowing the true history and knowledge of self as taught by the Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.