On June 13, 2026, the National Black Cultural Information Trust, Inc. proudly partnered with Studio Theatre as a Community Partner for a special matinee performance of Purlie Victorious by Ossie Davis, directed by Psalmayene 24.
Following the performance, audience members participated in a Community Partner Talk Back featuring Studio Theatre Associate Artistic Director Jess Hayes, Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor, Executive Director of the National Black Cultural Information Trust, Inc., and Nkechi Taifa, Esq., Executive Director of the Reparations Education Project.
The discussion explored the enduring impact of slavery and Jim Crow on Black communities in the United States, while examining themes of legacy, inheritance, freedom, and self-determination that remain deeply relevant today. Audience members reflected on how the play’s powerful satire continues to resonate with contemporary conversations about racial justice, historical memory, and reparative justice.
Purlie Victorious follows Purlie, a charismatic preacher who returns home determined to buy back his father’s church and help liberate the sharecroppers he grew up with from a segregationist plantation owner. First premiering in 1961, the play combines sharp humor, social commentary, and the realities of survival in the Jim Crow South. Its acclaimed 2023 Broadway revival earned six Tony Award nominations, demonstrating the work’s continued cultural significance.
NBCI Trust was honored to help facilitate this meaningful dialogue and engage community members in a conversation connecting Black cultural narratives, historical understanding, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.