The Project
Sankofa, meaning “go back and fetch it” is a stage adaptation of Sandy Lynne Holman’s award-winning children’s book Grandpa, is everything Black Bad?. Centered around a young boy, Montsho, who has been deeply affected by the anti-blackness all around him, Sankofa emphasizes the importance of knowing the history of one’s cultural heritage.
Montsho arrives at Grandpa’s house for his first Kwanzaa celebration, feeling low. Montsho expresses his confusion concerning the negative associations with the color black as they relate to him and his own dark skin. Grandpa knows just what to do, turning to the family’s Sankofa history book. African diasporic historical figures leap off the pages telling remarkable stories of ancient Kemet, barnstorming, Black Wall Street, and more. Aunties and cousins help bring the seven principles of Kwanzaa to life as Montsho journeys from the gumbo pot in the kitchen to the backyard barbecue. Together they strengthen family bonds and rediscover the rich heritage that comes with being Black.
This beautiful story is sure to leave a lasting impression, whether it be one of pride in one’s ancestry, or admiration of the wonders of African diasporic history. The first step in a holistic approach to systemic change is through intergenerational and culturally relevant education. This play serves as an entry point for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn about anti-Blackness, and other historical and contemporary ism’s.
Photos from the show’s 2022 workshop production produced in partnership with Bike City Theatre Company and The University of California, Davis’s Department of Theater & Dance.
About the Author
Sandy Lynne Holman is the founder and director of the Culture C.O.-O.P. For over 35 years, she has focused on the importance of culturally relevant and responsive services and materials while increasing cultural competence in educational and service-oriented settings. In her long career as an equity specialist, educator, counselor, and activist she has consulted with scores of organizations, including the National Center For Learning Disabilities, Understood.org, the Center for The Whole Child, the National Head Start Conference, the United States Navy and the United Way. Sandy has presented to thousands of youth and adults, locally and nationally as an author and advocate for holistic systemic change. She has been recognized with awards including the City Of Davis Lifetime Achievement Award, Ida B. Wells Risk Taker Award, and the Calvin Handy leadership award, among others. Sandy received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Davis and her M.S. in School Counseling with a focus on Education from California State University, Sacramento.
Our Partner
The Culture C.O.-O.P.’s mission is to promote systemic change, cultural competency, literacy, and a quality education for all. The organization engages regularly with youth/adults, communities, organizations, businesses, and institutions, using a holistic approach that is intergenerational and culturally relevant. With over 35 years of experience in the field, The Culture C.O.-O.P employs the arts and other research-based tools to comprehensively serve and educate people of all ages and backgrounds. They seek to create new paradigms for how people view and engage with one another.
In 2019, Studio Creatch Co-founder J.R. Wolfe attended a screening of the Culture C.O.-O.P.’s documentary, The Cost of Darkness. The film addresses the history of race based policies and their systemic effects. Yancher and Culture C.O.-O.P. Director Sandy Holman spoke after the showing, setting the stage for the collaborative adaptation of Holman’s award winning children’s book,“Grandpa, is Everything Black Bad?”. Sandy invited J.R. to intern with her organization for 2 years during his graduate studies at U.C. Davis. Lessons learned at the Culture C.O.-O.P. prepared J.R. and Studio’ Creatch’s Jordan Brownlee to assist Holman in the development of this live performance piece. In 2022, a workshop production of the show was produced in partnership with Bike City Theatre Company and the University of California Davis’ Department of Theatre and Dance. Studio Creatch is proud to continue the work and assist the Culture C.O-O.P. in refining Sankofa for its eventual premiere.
Acknowledgments
We would like to recognize Bike City Theatre Company, Yolo Arts, the City of Davis, the California Arts Council, and Congregation Bet Haverim’s Bieberstein Social Justice Fund for nurturing the genesis of this project. We thank the City of Davis’s Civic Arts Commission and their Arts and Cultural Affairs Fund for supporting the continued Development of this important work.
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