Submitted by Nicole Duncan-Smith
On Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Arts & Letters Committees of the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter in community partnership with the Brooklyn Academy of Music hosted its second Red Carpet event of the year, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” starring sorors Angela Bassett and Dominque Thorne at the historic BAM Harvey Theater.
The chapter, under the leadership of 26th President Kenya Johnson, modestly asked for 200 tickets to sell and within two days, the allotment was sold out. The chapter asked for 100 more, and those sold within a matter of hours. They returned to BAM and asked for an addition 100. Those sold faster than all the others and people (especially Delta Dears who are not tech savvy) still wanted more. Once more time the chapter asked its community partner for more tickets and they provided all that they had.
Dressed in African attire and white, hundreds of guests were greeted by volunteers: Delta Dears, Divas and Dolls. Step and repeat, banners and a 360-photo booth were nice touches to enhance the already highly-anticipated experience.
In addition to the dynamic sorors of the historical Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the second alumnae chapter to be established in New York City, they welcomed Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, the Oscar Award-winning Producer and Grammy Award-winning Member of The Roots, Questlove; Emmy Award-nominated Comedian Sam Jay; Film Producer; Emmy-nominated Producer Marjorie Clarke; President of Brooklyn Academy of Music, Gina Duncan; and the President and CEO of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Blondell Pinnock.
Once seated, as the audience watched the upcoming previews, the venue also premiered the chapter’s commercial for its upcoming Jabberwock season, the personal development and scholarship program for young women connected to the service area. A successful program and the chapter’s preeminent fundraiser, the event accomplished multiple goals: raised money for the chapter to continue the work of Delta and introduced through action the five-point programmatic thrust as a model for many young queens.
To add just a little more “Minerva Magic” on the chapter’s plans, African dancers and drummers from the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation performed for the audience prior to the film.
The chapter sold 475 tickets — 63% of the 750-seat theater — to members, family members, friends, and the community, taking over most of the venue. Partners said they never saw anything like it.