MLK Gospel Concert 'Set The House On Fire' Performs in Portsmouth Tonight

"Set The House On Fire" a gospel concert heating up for Martin Luther King Day returns to Portsmouth. Jukwaa Mazoa presents the 15th annual "Set The House On Fire" a gospel concert, tonight, January 21, 2012, 6:30 pm at St John's Episcopal Church 10 Chapel Street Portsmouth, NH.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter: Martin Luther King Jr

It is time for the annual "Set The House on Fire" a gospel concert, celebrating its 15th year in recognition Rev DR. Martin Luther Jr. It is with great pleasure for Seacoast artist, Sandi Clark to hold the 15th concert in Portsmouth.

She has brought some incredible talent to the area and this year will be no different. Headlining the event for 2013 will be soulful singer Yamica Peterson of Somersworth NH. Joining the line-up of performers will be, The Funky Divas Unplugged formally part of the female a cappella group called 6 Pitches. The group will feature Dan Poland - guitar, Thom Scagliotti - bass, Dianne McMillen and Vicky Avery - vocals.

"Set The House On Fire" band will feature Pete Peterson from Family Affair on guitar, James "Bat" Kaddy on drums, Rev Jeff Mcllwain of North Star AMEZion Church, Newington NH on Vocals and Bass, Duke Norman on Keys and Scip Gallant on the organ.. Kevin Wade Mitchell of Portsmouth NH will share excerpts from the MLK speech "I've Been To The Mountain Top."

Jukwaa Mazoa will present a play reading Hotel Test Case of 1964.* The Test Case is an appropriate reading to present at the MLK event because the story involved local resident the late Rev John Papandrew minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Portsmouth.

Rev. Papandrew actively worked for civil rights for all. Papandrew was born to Greek immigrants in Manchester, N.H., in 1921. Papandrew felt that too many people are content to sit by and blame others. He felt strongly about Martin Luther King's message in his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" calling on all white clergy to respond. He felt that was the least that clergy can do, by setting the example for our community of how to support others. In 1962 Rev Papandrew received a letter from Dr King acknowledging his civil rights work .Dr. King "thanked Rev. John Papandrew for giving witness during the Albany GA Movement. Dr. King explains that, through the events in Albany, the world is now aware of the situation in the South." (Archive, The King Center).

The Test Case also involves former Portsmouth resident and his wife the late Emerson and Jane Reed. Emerson Reed during the 1960's served as president of the local Seacoast branch of the NAACP and he chaired its Legal Redress Committee, which was gathering black and white members to test local places of public accommodations for compliance to the Civil Rights Act.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and women. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public ("public accommodations").

This story's primary focus is a test of racial segregation, the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. Like eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, going to the movies, the rental or purchase of a home..... Cast includes Narrators Valerie Fagan of Portsmouth NH, Sandi Clark of Newington NH producer of Jukwaa Mazoa theatre productions, Norm Levey of Ogunquit Me, Fredric Taylor of Rollinsford NH, ShaRon Jones Jenkins of Portsmouth NH (reading the part of her late sister Jane Reed) Marilyn Hagar of N. Berwick Me. Brian Munger of Rochester NH, Jim Murphy of York Me, Brenda Mannino of Wells, Me, Dan Lane of Ogunquit Me, and Julie Bouthillette of Wells Me.

Back because she is the best at whatever she does Mistress of Ceremonies, Jazz/Blues/Gospel singer and comedian, ShaRon Jones Jenkins.

"Set The House On Fire" a gospel concert will be held tonight, January 21, 2013, 6:30 pm at St John's Episcopal Church, 10 Chapel Street Portsmouth, NH. Regular tickets are $15,
Seniors /Students $12. For more information or to make a reservation, email Sandi - Jukwaamazoa@aol.com or call 603-436-2242. Please bring non- perishable food item or a gift card for personal care items to be donated to The Seacoast Family Food Pantry. With your support we can help replenish some of the shelves. Let's keep that giving feeling going and help those less fortunate and in need.

*Play based on information from Mark J. Sammons and Valerie Cunningham, Black Portsmouth: Three Centuries of African-American Heritage (Durham, N.H.: University of New Hampshire Press, 2004)

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