This Saturday's "Americans We" concert features BANNED music!

That's no typo. "A Mother of a Revolution", composed in 2019 by Omar Thomas, celebrates the life and legacy of Marsha P. "Pay it no Mind" Johnson. Our friends in the Desert Winds Freedom Band commissioned the work for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. AFB presented the Atlanta premiere of the piece in June of 2019. Since then, the piece has reached community and college bands across the country, telling Marsha's story in music. Last month, the Symphonic Band of Watertown, Wisconsin, planned to perform it during their spring concert. Then suddenly, the Watertown School Board decided that the piece glorified lifestyles inappopriate for children and celebrated violence against the police. They banned its performance. A tremendous outpouring of support from their fellow students, the Watertown community, and musicians across the nation quickly developed. The piece was eventually performed at a church in the town to an overflowing audience with the composer conducting and donations pouring in for the band program. As an added bonus, tens of thousands more people learned about Marsha's life and the role that the transgender community played in the early days of the movement for equality. Thomas' music gives Marsha a superhero theme with a disco twist. Don't miss your chance to hear this exciting piece of Banned Band music performed live. Get your tickets from the link below. See you Saturday! 📅 Saturday, June 20, 7 PM 🏛 Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College 📍 900 West End Ave SW, Atlanta 30310 🎟 atlantafreedombands.com/events/americans-we/ #pridemonth #semiquincentennial #afb33 #BetterWithTheBand @morehouse1867