There’s something exciting about having an experience that you know you’ll never forget. That’s exactly what I felt on October 8, when I escorted several of our youth from our partners in Newark, The HUBB Arts and Trauma Center, to The Metropolitan Opera, in New York City, to see “Dead Man Walking.”
This came about because one of the opera’s stars, Ryan McKinny, had contacted EJUSA about elevating our work as part of the leadup to the opera. As part of this partnership, Ryan wanted to see some of the work. And so we brought him to The HUBB.
A special visit from Ryan to The HUBB was the beginning of this story. They learned about his youth, some of his struggles, and how he ultimately found opera.
I call these teenagers game changers because they are our hope. Our future advocates and humanitarians opened their minds and hearts in a 3,800 seat theater in NYC. They absorbed the harsh realities of the death penalty system many advocate against. Together, we had such a moving and reflective opportunity. I watched how they leaned in on this different experience after getting to meet and spend some time with Ryan, and it was heartwarming.
During the opera, they focused, zoned in and occasionally out (LOL) during the first half of the show. I watched as their body language leaned into the heaviness and the emotions of the second half of the performance. Seeing how they were fully engaged during the on-stage execution, whispering in disbelief that they were going to show the actual execution. Glued to the video screen above the stage as the needle was injected into Ryan’s arm and the frozen silence as the poison began to flow into his veins.
Most of all, it was seeing them light up chanting and clapping during the encore moments that solidified it for me. The relationship they built with Ryan earlier in the week bloomed so beautifully. The memorable moment of seeing them go crazy for Ryan and the actress that played Sister Helen. Although they never met her, they were definitely moved by her character.
Another thing that came up for me, especially from my death penalty advocacy organizing days — the current relationships I have with exonerees never would have existed if the system had its way. I would never get to share the stories of great people who touched my life in so many ways. I feel blessed because I get to advocate alongside them.
What makes this story even more beautiful is the way in which Ryan approached this art to connect the humanity piece to this. The love he had for his friend who died while on death row, harmed by our punitive system, leans into Ryan’s healing through advocacy to change hearts and minds.
Changing the way people think about justice, through the arts. I love it.
As the night came to a close and we chomped on pizza, wings, and fries in a small pizza shop in New York City, the excitement of the next story soon to be told was intriguing. Ryan’s story opened the doors of curiosity on an upcoming Malcolm X opera coming in the spring. A civil rights legend who they identified with as an advocate for the empowerment of their communities. How will they tell Malcolm’s story on the musical stage? A collective “that would be cool to see” was the highlight of the conversation.
Changed minds.
