I, Too, Sing America
Bakhari Nokuri was commissioned by the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles to compose an original work adapting the poem “I, Too” by Langston Hughes for their Black History Month Tour.
The Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles is the nation's largest orchestra dedicated to empowering youth from underserved backgrounds through music. It was formed in 2009 by its Conductor and Executive Director, Charles Dickerson, at the instance of nine young African-American instrumentalists for a youth orchestra to serve a community where none existed. It now serves close to 300 youngsters of which about 125 will be on stage for the orchestra's participation in the LA Phil's March 2 Mahlerthon. It's mission is to provide high-quality music education and performance opportunities, all while fostering essential life skills such as discipline, teamwork, and self-confidence. ICYOLA offers an annual concert season of about 12 concerts, serving as a creative haven for its young members, allowing them to express themselves artistically and develop both musical and life-enhancing skills and practices that will serve them throughout their lives. Dwayne Burrell serves as the orchestra's Assistant Conductor.
Notes from Bakhari
I, Too, Sing America adapts the poem “I, Too” by Langston Hughes, but in a way that depicts what it means to be Black in the 21st century. It encapsulates a deep sense of pride, tradition, and identity rooted in an awareness of history shaped by years of oppression, slavery, and the fight for civil rights. In my eyes, Black identity has been marked by resilience, valor, and faith in others. While the days of overtly fighting for civil rights may be over, the struggle itself is not. Across America, oppression based on the color of our skin still exists, with systemic and social challenges continuing to place us at a disadvantage. Yet, despite this, we persist in showing the world what excellence looks like—through our vigor, our culture, and our art. This composition reflects what it means to carry the weight of the past, to fear for the future of our people, and still exude strength, faith, and excellence through it all. This piece expresses what it means to be Black.
Artwork by "Frizzy"
