Do you feel me. . . Northside High School student Ronisha Bynum shares her personal expressions about how she feels about society and earned first place in the Brotha’s Keepa and The Marcus Garvey Institute Third Annual Youth Talent Showcase. (Photos by Glen Yaun)	My way. . . Althenia Pashee Peterson sings “Hero” by Mariah Carey. Peterson, a student at Westminister College in Fulton, Mo., was awarded the $50 second prize.

With so much negativity and talent in the Memphis area, how do you call for a balance? One group of people came up with an idea some years ago that may help to counter one and showcase the other.

On Saturday, August 9, Brotha’s Keepa and The Marcus Garvey Institute sponsored its third Annual Youth Talent Showcase. Held at the institute, auditions were not really auditions in the traditional fashion.

Today’s media often paints such a grotesque picture of blacks that society has been trained to equate talent with sex. That being the case, auditions served as a screening process to make for certain that the young, gifted and black displayed family-friendly material.  

“We have to protect our children from predators in the community who will prey on them,” said J’malo Torriel, Brotha’s Keepa group member.

The screening gave workers more than what they were in search of.  A young man showed off his emceeing (hip hop) skills by way of a history lesson. A young lady performed an original monologue about the pains of growing up in a single parent home. A short time later, another young lady performed an interpretational dance of “Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now.“

“It comes as no surprise that our children are this gifted, we just have to provide outlets for them to express themselves in an intelligent manner,” said Jasira Montsho, a talent show volunteer.

Brotha’s Keepa is a spoken word, hip-hop, jazz, theatre, R&B, community activist duo – Torriel and Ayele Akibulan -- whose works are dedicated to the upliftment of Blacks. Brotha’s Keepa along with many willing workers such as Jasira, Powwah, Phu-Cha and many more have put together a long list of community events that include feeding the homeless every other Sunday, youth prison prevention programs, youth talent shows and more.
All of these programs, including talent show prizes, are paid for through performances and CD sales. First place prize was $100, second place was $50, and third place was $25.

“We were running short on funds for the summer programs when we agreed to do a radio interview with a radio station based in Boston, Mass. Immediately after the show we got a call from a brother who ordered 12 copies of our new CD, “The Re-Education of The Negro.” Needless to say – he was right on time!” said Akibulan.
The three judges for the show were Ron Herd, Lisa Jones and Lisa Shabazz. All of the contestants’ names were put into a hat and drawn for the order of performances.

After an evening of wholesome talent, intellect and fun, three youth stood out among them all.
Ladies and gentlemen, please give a strong hand to your third place winner for his rendition of Stevie Wonders’ “Knocks me off my feet” 13-year-old Darryl Strome. Second place goes to……………..make some noise for 17-year-old Althenia Pashee Peterson for her Spanish rendition of Mariah Carey's “Hero.”

Please stand to your feet and clap like this is the last time you’ll ever clap again!! Your first place $100 cash prize goes to 17-year-old Ronisha Bradley for her original monologue “Natural Hair.”
That concludes this year annual “Youth Talent Showcase.”

For those who may want to be involved on next year's talent showcase, want to involve yourself in other Brotha’s Keepa events, or want to contribute financially, feel free to call (901) 859-4051 or log on to www.cdbaby.com/Brothaskeepa and order your own copy of “The Re-Education