Black History Month Speaker

Book Speaker, Entertainer and Author, Wambui Bahati

to

Enlighten and Enliven
Your Black History Month Event!

" . . . Somewhere in the midst of these times, I started hearing the phrase “Black is Beautiful.” I saw pictures and read about Colored people in some parts of the country who wore their hair nappy on purpose. Some Colored people were starting to call themselves black. They said that they were not Colored people. Let me see. I remember being called Negro, and I don’t know exactly when it happened, but Negro became an unacceptable word. I was then called Colored. I was a Colored girl. Now, I was hearing that I shouldn’t call myself Colored. I was Black. I was a Black girl. I was a Black American . . ."
Black History Month Speaker

Wambui Bahati
Black History Month Speaker

. . . Reading an excerpt from her highly acclaimed
autobiographical book, "You Don't Know Crazy":

. . . expert from a live presentation:
Don't let her youthful looks and boundless energy fool you! This captivating woman presents with over forty years of professional theater and public speaking experience, spanning a wide range of venues, audiences, and cities throughout the United States.

Wambui Bahati - Black History Speaker at 2 years old

Wambui Bahati - 2 years old -1952
North Carolina

Wambui, a.k.a. John-Ann Washington, was born and raised in the segregated south during the 1950s and 1960s and sprinkles her presentation with significant national historical events, and how they personally effected her life.

She also invites us in for a behind the scenes look at her years as a black actress on Broadway and in national touring shows. She performed featured roles in notable African American productions such as Mickey Grant's Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope in the 1970's and The Wiz with Stephanie Mills, directed by Geoffrey Holder. She was Prissy in the Dallas Summer Musicals Production of Gone With the Wind (the musical).

Her theater resume is extensive and includes show that were at the forefront of braking racial barriers in the late 60's, 70's and 80's.

Wambui wrote, produced and stars in the one-woman musicals Balancing Act and I Am Domestic Violence . Both of these shows have received national acclaim for the unique way that they provide outstanding entertainment while dealing with important issues in our communities. (Mental Illness and Domestic Violence)

She will share many first-hand and personal accounts of important historical events such as the one she relates in this excerpt from the chapter entitled We Shall Over Come in her nationally acclaimed book You Don't Know Crazy:

" . . . The year was about 1963. I was about 13. Roberta [my sister] would come home from high school all fired up about something some guy at the Agricultural and Technical College had said.

“I think he’s fine.” She’d smile and give a heavenly sigh each time she’d say how fine he was. (In the sixties that meant he was cute).

“Is he your boyfriend?” I asked.

“No. He’s not my boyfriend, but I do think he’s fine—and he’s smart too.” She’d go on to say, “He said we are just as good as white people. We should be able to go in the front door of the Carolina Theater just like anybody else—and sit down at Woolworth’s and eat our food like the white people do.”

“Yea. Well what is this ‘fine college boy’ going todo about it?”

“We’re going to march.”

“What?”

“Jesse said . . .”

“Is that your boyfriend’s name?”

“He’s not my boyfriend. His name is Jesse Jackson. And Jesse said we have to let white people know that we are people too and are entitled to the same rights that the white people have . . ."

In addition to the historical elements, Wambui comes with a message that reminds all of us of our strength, courage and our ability to rise above any adverse situation. As an example, she uses her own story of survival against the odds.

* She went from Broadway star to welfare mom.
* Some said she was dead.
* She was homeless.
* Others said she was on drugs.
* She was told she would spend her life in and out of mental institutions.
* She was told her children could no longer live with her.

This inspiring woman not only ‘got up’ when everyone thought she was ‘out for the count’, but rose to new heights, and continues to soar. She will give your audience the inspiration and tools that will allow you to soar too!

Wambui reveals exactly what she did that allowed her to reclaim her life, and she encourages the the audience to understand that each and every one of us has an innate wisdom and strength that may have either been forgotten about, or the knowledge has been lost as to how to tap into that inner wisdom and strength. Wambui will show you how to find that within yourself.

" . . . Many years later—in the 80s, when my children were young, they were performing in a dance concert at the Carolina Theatre. The theater, which was originally opened in 1927, had gone through a few renovations by this time.

When I took them to rehearsal, we entered through the front door. I stood in the lobby with them for a second and then I walked out with them. We went back in again.

I said to them,“I just came through the front door!”

I turned around and took them out again. We came back in again.

“We just walked in the front door of the Carolina Theatre.”

I laughed out loud. “I came in the front door!”

The book - "You Don't Know Crazy"

To get more information about booking Wambui for your
Black History Month Event
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