A Bedtime Project

今日はサミーの勝負の日。家族総出で球場に行き、街中の人が見ています。 彼女はこの街のリトルリーグでプレイする初めての女の子なのです。そして、黒人の女の子としても初めてのことです。 (Today is Sammi's BIG DAY. She will go to the park with her whole family - and the whole town will watch. She is the FIRST GIRL to play in a little league baseball game in her town. And she is the first BLACK girl to play, too.)

Once upon a time there was a little girl.  And yet - she soon discovered - she was not only a girl.  She was something else.... Something wild and dangerous.  For a time she suffered, with honor, with her secret. But her people loved her; her mommy and daddy and a special teacher. And she loved herself, also. And so - she found a way to be who she was meant to be… And she found a sacred people who understood her needs.  And she was ALL she could be. Translated and Narrated by Akrosia Samson Written by Nick Gillie Produced by Leelai Demoz Mixed by Avila Santo Music Score by Ron Blake Artwork Designed by Ashley Blanchard Executive Producers Black University, Leelai Demoz, Akrosia Samson, Ron Blake & Avila Santo

The final episode in this Season! Our good friend Ricky Whittle aka Shadow Moon weaves this tale. An old man, helpless and lost in one kind of way - befriends some furry babies who are helpless in an entirely different way. The old man is helpless because he knows ONLY what he can see and touch. The old man can no longer see or touch the one thing he ever loved. And now he feels ONLY - all that he has lost. The furry babies are helpless because they know NOTHING of the visible world around them. They understand only what they sense of that world... The furry babies lost their greatest love also. But they can sense love anywhere. They are not blind in the light.  And so the babies become father to the man. narrated by Ricky Whittle written by Nick Gillie produced by Avila Santo music scored and soundscape by Ron Blake original music and orchestration by Matthew Pittman post photo designed by Blanchard Marketing A Black University Production

There's a Peacock in central park and its cleaning all the rocks and leaves!! And it's wearing Air Jordans! Wait. That's not a peacock…. Oh my goodness but it sure thinks it is.   Luckily, there's a group of kind and understanding women, in a not terriblt kind place - and they bring the poor thing back.  Listen to Myko Lyric weave the tale… Narrated by Myko Lyric Written by Nick Gillie Produced by Avila Santo Music score and soundscape by Ron Blake Photo design by Blanchard Marketing A Black University Production

DUWAUN'S CANDLE Duwaun has lived in many loveless homes and now he lives in a hospital room with two other boys. Duwuan is 11 and he may not live another month. The other boys have someone to visit them, Duwuan does not. There are several bags of candles downstairs in the hospital playroom. And, one night that Duwuan is most scared and alone - he lights one of the candles. Duwuan lights Baldwin. Baldwin brings Duwaun a dream - and something from the dream follows Duwaun out of the Darkness into the light-world… Narrated by John Jones Written by Nick Gillie Produced by Avila Santo Scored by Ron Blake

LOVE IN THE DESERT Spirit walked long on the burning, clean, sand Her voice gifted the wind with a power of song Her joyous tears caused water to bloom in the smouldering air So flowers were born, from love from the Darkness, the unknowable womb of chance. Ghost came then Her foot falls did unbound breathing green  out of newly born dust and Her wet cycling laughter woke the trees Her voice sounded horns to summon the herds and then Green became flush SHE was beauty unashamed, naked Black Power A woman then In grace She accepted the burden of time As none now remember But still inside our tears of joy She yet is A Being of Us SHE once walked the sands of no thing  but She saw All And so Here we are…  Yet, none now remember  Her. Narrated by Yetide Badaki Written by Nick Gillie Produced by Avila Santo Scored by Ron Blake Photo Design by Blanchard Marketing

SLY & CINDY Only very recently Cindy was born. But that doesn't stop her from uncovering some of the mysteries of her world very quickly. Even if she does get a few things confused - like, for instance, what species of animal her parents are.  And once Cindy discovers locomotion the fun begins, very quickly. Right away, Cindy sets out on a big adventure in the wilderness. And she runs into a very, very, very old friend.  Narrated by Tiffany Coty Written by Nick Gillie Produced and Scored by Ron Blake Original music by Matthew Pittman and Phil Daniels Mixed by Phil Daniels Ad post designed by Blanchard Marketing A Black University production

A DANCE TO REMEMBER Wilbert is buffing the floors in a fancy department store, one night. Wilbert's wife passed away recently. So as he buffs the marble floors near the women's section, on the second floor, he begins to miss his wife.  His love is so powerful - that the very clothes themselves take pity on Wilbert. And a miracle happens…   Narrated by Moses Vern Written by Nick Gillie Produced & edited by Avila Santo Music score Ron Blake

Once upon a time there was a little girl.  And yet - she soon discovered - she was not only a girl.  She was something else.... Something wild and dangerous.  For a time she suffered, with honor, with her secret. But her people loved her; her mommy and daddy and a special teacher. And she loved herself, also. And so - she found a way to be who she was meant to be… And she found a sacred people who understood her needs.  And she was ALL she could be. Narrated by Susan Dalian Written by Nick Gillie Produced & Edited by Avila Santo Music Score by Ron Blake A Black University Production

Sammi wakes up and remembers - Today is her Big Day. She is the first.... And she will have to perform under pressure -- in front of the WHOLE TOWN. Listen to see what happens....

Mary doesn't always like to do her hair. She doesn't always want to be "cute." And there is a puddle of mud just outside Mary's town. When Mary is alone near the mud puddle, one day, everything changes. And she gets some answers to being Mary.

Laquesha is a ten year old Black girl living in a housing project with dreams of being an entrepreneur. With the help of the ancestors she learns to use the mysterious force of love and beauty inside her that is The Darkness.