Author Archives: Sophia Ebanks

About Sophia Ebanks

Macaulay Honors Class of 2018. Has hopes of becoming an anthropologist, photographer, and writer. Feel free to take a look at some of my work and learn more about me at letthejourneybeyours.wordpress.com

Class Portrait

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Hey everyone!

So I’ve come up with an idea for the class portrait!

We would shoot two group photos:

The first – everyone will do an artsy pose that comes to mind when they think of art (be as creative as you possibly can)

And the second – everyone will be holding a piece of construction paper listing one word that describes art, one word that describes the city, and one word that describes them – just to cover the whole arts, nyc, and me title of the class

Either Manjekar or I will provide the construction paper & Sharpies (unless someone already has some at home they’d be willing to bring)

Hopefully, we were thinking that we could get the portraits done on Friday around 1pm down at Riverside Park. Could everyone just comment and let me know if that would be a good day and time. If anyone has any other suggestions for the portraits, write that in the comments as well. But remember, we really have a short amount of time to get this done.

Hope you’ll all be excited to do it though!

“Return of the Native” by Amiri Baraka

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I tried to find the poem online but for some reason it’s not popping up, so feel free to look in Poems of New York, pages 152-153, for the poem.

I absolutely love this poem. Amiri Baraka, a famous black poet of the 1960s, write this poem centered around Harlem, the hub of black life at the time. He imagines a life in a place like Harlem that’s meant only for black people and brings a sense of communal joy. He ironically describes Harlem as “vicious” and “violent” and “transforming,” yet somehow beautiful. He dreams that in this world Harlem sees only sunny skies, never rain, as a symbol of the warmth that fills that place. He imagines that they will have everything they need in this world, including love for themselves. There will be a sense of joy that they thrive among themselves and will be comforted by familiarity. In the poem, I feel like he skillfully juxtaposes this dream world to the reality of the 1960s.

This poem adds to what Harlem meant for so many Black Americans at that time – it stood as a vision of a better future. Living in The Towers near campus right now, I feel grateful to be in a community that meant so much to a people. However, standing in this present that this poem looks toward creates deep sorrow for what has happened to Harlem and this vision, especially amid the recent tragedies in America. It never fails to amaze me how art can open the door to social critique.

Daniel Kelly’s Visit

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I found Daniel Kelly’s visit to be kind of inspiring. I remember how someone in the class asked him if he knew that he wanted to be a jazz musician since he was young, and yes he did. But it made me think about the idea that someone will always feel compelled from the beginning to do their craft. Sometimes it’s not clear for a lot of artists and that’s okay too. It’s like how Patti Smith knew she wanted to be an artist but not exactly what she would do and how she would do it.

Also, being an artist really is not for the faint of heart. At one point during the visit, I was reminded of the documentary The Americans in which one person had said that it takes a lot of passion and discipline to make it, and that it won’t happen without both. That’s probably what gets someone like Daniel Kelly to make music for the past 20 years. The emphasis on community was really important as well. There will be a lot of people that may discourage artists, like parents, but artists always have the ability to surround ourselves with like-minded people that support their dreams and fill them with positive energy.

I also admire how after a while, in almost every artists career, they’ll stop worrying so much about being the greatest and such, and just focus on making work that’s true to them and makes them satisfied. It’s weird, but I really thought of Beyonce’s recent music when he said something along those lines during the discussion. In comparison to the New York City of the days in Just Kids, the New York City of today seems like a much more competitive, cutthroat place that fills people with much much more hopes of making it one day because of the city’s history as the starting point for many successful artists’ careers. It’s hard to follow in that same path, so I can understand why getting out of NYC to create art might be a little bit more helpful.

And his last piece of advice was honestly really great. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.

Anything Could Happen for the Six Characters

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Six Characters in Search of an Author really has to be viewed with an open, imaginative mind.

The impression I got from the play with this sense of confusion and tragedy, atop this desire to change the dynamics of stage production.The idea of six characters who present themselves independently yet still wish to be claimed by an author is really ironic and really creative. In the confusion between reality and fantasy, I felt like the characters themselves even had trouble agreeing on what really occurred or at least the reasons for why they occurred. It doesn’t seem like they’re in search for one author in particular; almost as if anyone will do. From that I got the feeling that there was a message that these characters simply just wanted to be seen and perform as they were, with no pretenses. The author in this play sort of represented all authors collectively. When the characters approach this director in the play, they insist on telling the story as it is while the director wants to change it and make it more light-hearted. I also felt like the “nude reveal” scene was sort of another way of just being direct and upfront about what occur, basically a way of ensuring that all that is true to them is laid out in front of everyone. I think they’re trying to make the author question the reality of the work normally produced. The author doesn’t really seem to question if their story is real, up until the end.

There was one scene in particular that I can’t remember now but what the characters said gave me the idea of an author writing this story and along the way becoming somewhat embarrassed or ashamed of it to ever produce it, and ending up throwing it away in the trash. Somehow, they’ve found a way to bring life to their story. Usually, the author is the one that shapes these characters, but in this play it felt much more like the characters had the upper-hand. The characters were able to draw in the actors and the directors and basically make nothing seem more important at that moment than the tragedy of their lives, that way the actors and director becomes tied into the tragedy.

What I was mostly left wondering was if the characters have appeared to several authors before, sort of like an apparition, to disrupt the flow of things. Who is to say they didn’t make up the story as they went along? Overall, I think it was a really interesting production.

Also, I read this review from the New York Times that I think can add to the discussion.

Quick Encounters

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This picture represents New York City for me. It’s a tough city to live in undoubtedly. Sometimes it feels like everyone is in a rush and the attitudes can be unwelcoming. In the middle of all the rush though, you can always find some form of entertainment. On this day, when this woman was charging for card readings in Union Square. I asked her if she minded if I took some pictures of her and she said it would be fine. Just when I started clicking away, this man walked up to her so kindly and handed her some money, and she held his hand while he thanked her so sweetly, for what I’m not sure since he hadn’t gotten a card reading and she was in the middle of one at that moment. But that encounter seemed to add to both of their days. Her whole demeanor changed when he came and it honestly seemed like something great had just happened and I was glad to capture it. Afterwards he went on with his day as did she. But I love that moments like these can happen between strangers in the middle of everything. I feel like this can only ever happen here in New York City.

La Casa Azul: A Place of Creativity

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The La Casa Azul Bookstore is a Hispanic bookstore in East Harlem that started 2 years ago. It is the only bookstore in East Harlem and the only Hispanic bookstore in NYC. It was inspired by Frida Kahlo’s home in Mexico. It’s really a creative space that mainly sells books written by Latino and Afro-latino writers. It features book clubs, book readings, open mics, dance classes, cooking classes, exhibits, and a lot more. The current exhibit “A Ribbon Around A Bomb: Who Am I Being + Becoming In This Space” portrays photographs of young women in the day and age, with their personal reflections of what makes them the lively and brilliant women that they are. All reflections started with “I am powerful because…”

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one of the photographs from the “Ribbon Around A Bomb” exhibit

This place is such a rarity. I was amazed to find it in the first place. I love the individuality and flair it has as a book store. It gives a platform to voices that aren’t heard often. It’s just a beautiful, bright place.

Fall for Dance Short Critique

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I came to Fall for Dance thinking that the performances would be so fantastical and out of this world, but after the first two performances I was a little disappointed. I felt that they were classical and traditional in style, and the music had me nodding off a little. However, the last two performances were extremely captivating. I loved how much they played with the lighting in “AP15.” I could see how the dancers pushed their bodies to the limit, especially during the one part when one basically jumped over the other’s head. It takes so much skill and so much practice, and then so much composure to carry that out on stage. I also loved how some of the moves could still be playful and receive a bit of a laugh or a shock. It was really an enlivening dance. With the “Minus 16” dance, I enjoyed how informal it felt and how welcoming the dancers were towards the audience. It took me a while to even realize that the performance had begun. I honestly thought the man in front of the curtain was like one of those award show hosts that entertains the audience while the next performers get ready. But that inclusivity of the audience during the performance carried out through the end. During this performance, I realized how much voice contribute to dance. Dance performances can actually incorporate vocals alongside body movements; there’s no rule that says it can’t. That was something I’ve rarely seen if ever.

There was simply a feeling of good energy by the end of the night. I feel like that’s just something that dance evokes in people.

Sophia Ebanks – Yet, Another Introduction

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I’m Sophia Ebanks.

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I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. I’m the youngest of 3 sisters. My family is from Jamaica but sadly, I have never been there myself. One day, hopefully.

City College is the first public school I have ever attended. Before this, I went an all-girls Catholic high school in the Throggs Neck area of the Bronx. Prior to that, a Lutheran school in Morris Park. While in high school, I became involved in step, an African-American form of dance. I also enjoyed singing as part of a Gospel Choir. I sort of miss people singing randoms bits of our songs or stopping me to show me part of a step they learned from watching our performances as I walked through the halls.

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After competing for first time in 10 years, our Step Team placed 3rd in the “Break the Stage” competition.

In my spare time, I usually try to read a few books. My favorite author ever is Toni Morrison. Recently, I have been trying to read more books about meditation and spirituality, and I feel that it is a very interesting world of its own. I also try to keep up with my blog posts. I write on a site I created called Wielded Power, a blog I made after the George Zimmerman case two summers ago. And another one called Relics of Truth where I like to post some of my poetry. If you want to take a look at them, here they are:

Wielded Power
Relics of Truth
(That’s the end of my shameless plug)

When I’m not doing that I’m either taking long naps, trying to make several different styles with my hair, or traveling around the city to find places to eat and attend events with friends.

After a long day walking through the Village and over the Brooklyn Bridge, I was so glad someone could capture this money shot

After a long day walking through the Village and over the Brooklyn Bridge, I was so glad someone could capture this money shot.

I’m majoring in Anthropology, and I hope to double minor in public policy and journalism. I hope to travel the world with my camera soon and honestly just write about what I see, mainly race, class, gender, culture, and politics. Anything that catches my attention really. But my dream is really to get involved with young women in urban areas, especially teenage girls, and set up recreational centers for them in their own neighborhoods; maybe even get involved in bettering the public education system of New York at the high school level.