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I received a message from one of my mom’s connections telling me to check my email on Saturday night. When I opened it, the subject line jumped out at me: 44: The Obama musical. At first, I was confused until I kept reading and realized it was a play about our 44th president, Barack Obama. The email was an invite to attend the musical  with one of Obama’s former speechwriters, David Litt. After the show, I was going to be interviewed to see how much I know about Obama since it feels like my life has only been focused on President Donald Trump.  At first, I had in mind to keep my Sunday free, but it felt rude to turn down such a big  opportunity. 

Sunday morning I got up to start my day. I dressed formally but comfortable keeping in mind I’d be walking a lot. Passing through the marathon, my mind blanked. My mom kept asking questions. I was originally annoyed because I was thinking about what I’d say during the interview and she was interrupting my thought process. I didn’t know what’d I be asked and who I was meeting. I reached  in front of  The Daryl Roth Theatre projecting 44 the Obama musical. I got a call from David Litt telling me he arrived, I found him and we took a lap around the block talking about me as a person and my expectations. I told him there wasn’t much to it; I don’t really go to musicals so I hope to both understand it and enjoy it. We got seated and the musical started. It’s a very eye-catching musical. One of the main singers, Summer Nicole Greer, who played the voice of People , blew my ear drums. She was so good at holding notes and singing her lines. 

Aside from that, the musical was a bit confusing. Since I was born in 2008, I was still too young to understand the presidency of Obama besides what has been taught in school. Ranging from Obama and Michelle’s poverty and how they never wanted to change their giving mindset for power. To being taught the basics, first black president and the first lady. After the musical, the producer took me backstage to see and talk to the actors. All of them were really nice but what stood out t

o me the most was the warmth between the cast. Everyone was close and positive. T.J. Wilkins, who played the role of Obama, along with the singer Greer and I were having a conversation about not letting racism show our anger as colored people are already put in a category of always being angry.

I turn around to see eyes peering at me and mouths in shock of how strong my questions were and how well spoken I was. At that moment I understood the feeling of being backstage. After that talk, I took a walk with Litt and we talked about what I understood about the musical and Obama’s presidency

After wrapping up our interview I went home to share the experience. Later that following week I got a call from a New York Times publisher and editor to make sure my words were exactly how it was said. Then I received an email that it would be published at 5am. At that moment I had a bit of excitement floating through me.

44: The Obama Musical was an empowering musical, it goes beyond just singing and acting. It peeks into the background of the presidency and how much people really ignore it unless it benefits them. In all, I would recommend seeing this musical, to see beyond and to have your own mindset going in.

Read the New York Times article here.