Naturally 72: A DECADE OF BLACKNESS, A PAN-AFRICAN REVUE!

A DECADE OF BLACKNESS, A PAN-AFRICAN REVUE!

JANUARY 28th, 1962, already considered a historic date in the annals of orthodox African Nationalism, should also be heralded in the works of legitimate Black Theatre. For on that date, ten years ago, those two elements – one, a political philosophy, the other cultural media – merged together to create an institutional for to resurrect the old Garvey credo that truly “Black is Beautiful!”

On that date was born NATURALLY ’62, which actually redefined Black Theatre as a positive weapon to be utilized within an arsenal already too limited against the forces of oppression subjugating Black People. This show was the predecessor of a series of politicultural affairs

“designed to restore our racial pride and standards!”

Our message was simply to institute a new set of A, B, C’s through the use of theatrical presentations. Since the majority of our people suffered from an inferiority complex revolving around their distorted views of Africa, Blackness and, as a result, its related Culture then we, along with other concerned members of our Race, must strive to help them become truly — and sincerely — aware of Africa (and themselves as Africans); see beauty in their Blackness, i.e. as Black People; and collectively conscious of our [AFRICAN] Culture.

And so, we promoted through the instrument of psychodramas (more commonly known as the NATURALLY Shows) the concept that all Black People were African People; therefore they should be about loving themselves first, appreciating their Blackness and African heritage; and, above all, we do not need to imitate any other people because “We arebeautiful, naturally!”

NATURALLY ’62 started out as a “cocktail sip, fashionette & coiffure show starring lovely Models displaying the Natural Hair Style!” in a small club on 125th Street called The Purple Manor. The Amsterdam News reported that “The January presentation drew such and overflow audience, that the show had to be presented twice, a second time for the waiting crowds who refuse to leave until they were admitted.”

A year later, NATURALLY had expanded to such a magnitude, both in production and patrons that it was being held in Harlem’s largest ballroom, Rockland Palace, after also overcrowding Smalls’ Paradise and the Audubon Ballroom respectively. Another edition of the Amsterdam News, reviewing our first show, prophesied that “It is as the names indicates ‘Naturally 62’ ... the trend of the Afro (sic) Jazz-Art Society’s hair styles could soon leave Harlem and become a leading fashion of the USA.” Since Harlem is admittedly “the cultural capitol of Black America,” the concept lived up to its prophecy.

NATURALLY [‘62] has gone on to revolutionize the image of the whole fashion and cosmetic industries, as well as influencing the visual impressions (and verbal expressions) of a countless number of Black folks in various types of theatrical presentations, whether on Broadway or Off- Broadway, film or television. Black has not only become beautiful, today — Black has unfortunately profitable to both Black & white capitalism.

Ten years ago, it was said that, the Black Woman — because of mass inferiority complex, that made her feel inferior in appearance (and intellect) to the white woman, and other non-Black women — were wasting over $76 million a year on hairstraightening process — just in slick ole New York! And since we [AJASS] believe that the Blackwoman — in her natural state — is the most Beautiful Woman in the Universe, we decided to turn trend back around toward normal behavior patterns; hence our ten year campaign in the psychological war in the greatest battle for the minds of our people.