The Meeting shares of “what could have” happened

KALAMAZOO (MI)-The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached non-violence through a Christian message. Malcolm X rallied the Nation of Islam toward defending the Black people and their rights ‘by any means necessary.’

While they defended two very different approaches to the Civil Rights Movement, both were passionate about bringing the Black people out of bondage in the United States that began with slavery. Because of their views, they did not work together. However, what if they had met, at least once for a talk on their views and future of their people?

That conversation may be similar to what took place in the play, “The Meeting.” The play was performed on Sept. 11 at Allen Chapel AME Church in Kalamazoo. The presentation was just one of the many events scheduled toward the 155^th Anniversary Celebration of the church. Buddy Hannah starred as the tall, lean Malcolm X, while John McCants starred as the Rev. King. Bill Chapman rounded off the three-man performance as Rashad, Malcolm’s the trigger-happy Muslim body guard.

During the one-act play set in Harlem’s historic Hotel Theresa, the audience is taken into a scenario which envelopes actual historic events experienced by the two men. King’s letter from Birmingham Jail was mentioned as well as his Nobel Peace Prize, both of which X were critical. King defended non-violence and brought to X’s attention how the recent bombing on his own home in 1965 (the year the play is set) was an act of terrorism, and solved nothing. Malcolm X would be assassinated a week later; King too would die from an assassination three years later.

Hannah, McCants and Chapman passionately played their roles to the audience of nearly 100 residents of all ages. For some the play refreshed their own memories of the Civil Rights Era, and for the youth, it brought to life historical figures they may have only read about, briefly in history books.

For those who missed the free performance, they missed a part of history that these three local men helped bring to life in a heartfelt and entertaining way.

“The Meeting,” written in 1987 by Jeff Stetson, is the winner of eight NAACP Theater awards. Hannah has played the role of Malcolm X for the local performances for more than a decade. The play is performed all across the country each year; particularly during Black History Month.

Allen Chapel will celebrate their 155^th Anniversary with a dinner at the Radisson Plaza Hotel on Oct. 24, with a keynote address by the first female bishop of the AME 13^th District the Rt. Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie.

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