The composition establishes the listener in the scene of a runaway slave in the middle of a suspenseful chase from capture as they narrate their thoughts throughout their journey. This is done through the way the music and words of the poem the piece is based on blend together to induce an anxiety in the listener that allows them to put themselves in the shoes of this runaway slave and runaway slaves in general. This piece stuck out to me for how it makes the listener tune in with its loudness, language, and vibe all due to how it connects to one’s emotion. Of course, I wouldn’t know what the experience is like to be a runaway slave, but the way this piece related to me was through how it tied to my own experiences with anxiety and fear. Additionally, I evoked messages on blackness in the world of art and society in general with elements such as the picture of runaway slaves in the background and squiggled African masks and theatre masks.
Deslin Nkansah-Brempong
