The Success of the First Book

[Kenyada]

Three different essays by Richard Kenyada from his first book, essays & open wounds while waiting for The APOLOGY, have become reference material for college courses and other authors.

Flesh Tone Bandages & Other White Privileges was required reading for two courses at the University of Utah - Cross Cultural Psychology & the Ethnic Studies course of the Pacific Islander American Experience.

Interracial... Record Buying is referenced in a new book about black music, Soul Covers by Michael Awkward

Love, Lena Horne, is an essay dedicated to Kenyada's father, Buddy, and his life long cherished memory of a dance he shared with Lena Horne. This charming anecdote is included in a brand new book about the diva's life titled, Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne by James Gavin

Of course, the greatest success was achieved by the Kenyada essay titled, The APOLOGY, which was adapted as the finale for the stage production Maafa Suite in 1997, and toured the county through 2004. New York reviewer, Donna Lamb wrote the following after seeing the play:

"...For three hours, the story is told through music, song, dance, ritual and the spoken word. Sometimes it is conveyed in very factual terms as authentic happenings are acted out, or characters, in powerful monologues, tell what was done to them. At other times, the message is brought across more symbolically.
And just purely from the standpoint of what makes good theater, it is a mighty thing to see scenes with well over 100 people taking part on the stage, in front of it and in the isles. Everything is well put together, expertly done.

One of the problems for a production such as this, since there is no happy ending with which to wrap it all up, is what do you do to conclude it so that you don't send the audience away in a total funk?

You talk about reparations, that's what. And it is magnificent. In the section entitled The Apology, written by Richard Kenyada, a wonderful cast of 6 Citizens, some older and some younger, talk about what reparations would look like to them. And let me tell you, they want an apology with their reparations, and they want it loud; they want it in CAPITAL LETTERS; they want it to be able to reach into outer space and to the ears of Malcolm X!

Bernard White of WBAI radio, who is not quick to praise things, said that the MAAFA Suite caused him to have the greatest emotional experience he's ever had inside a house of God. If you attend it for yourself, you will see why."

Buy "essays & open wounds while waiting for The APOLOGY"
Buy "Reflections in the Dark Room: The Black Essays"