A Theatrical Musical Storytelling Experience
Their Struggle Your Turn
One generation asks
“Why are we still fighting?”
Another answers
“Because the work is not finished.”
90 seconds. Two generations. One unfinished conversation about what we inherit and what we owe.
One generation asks
“Why are we still fighting?”
“Because the work is
not finished.”
The whole evening lives inside that exchange — a question carried by the young, an answer carried by those who walked the trail first.
Another generation answers
What is Words From The Trail?
A MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE.
Through powerful narration, music, and reflection, THEIR STRUGGLE.YOUR TURN. creates a meaningful conversation between generations. This engaging production invites audiences to consider the sacrifices of those who fought for justice and the responsibility each new generation has to continue making the world better. It is more than a performance, it is a challenge to ask “what will you do when it is your turn” ?
MEMORY · STRUGGLE · SONG
The Experience
Four movements,
one conversation.
01
Story
Narrated storytelling that carries a family, a movement and a country across three generations in a single evening.
02
Musician
A live musical layer — spirituals, blues lines, and contemporary composition — that gives each story its emotional weight.
03
Conversation
A theatrical exchange staged as dialogue between generations, where neither voice is allowed the last word.
04
Reflection
A closing movement that turns the question outward: what unfinished work belongs to the people in this room?
Why it belongs on campus
More than a performance.
A conversation your campus needs.
Campuses are where generations actually meet — where a student’s urgency and an elder’s memory sit in the same room. THEIR STRUGGLE.YOUR TURN is built for that room. It gives your community a shared emotional text: something to feel together, argue about afterward, and carry into classrooms, dorms and student organizing long after the lights come up.
Intergenerational dialogue
Students hear an elder’s account and are asked to answer it — not agree with it.
History that refuses distance
Memory becomes present tense, connecting archival struggle to what students face now.
Engagement that continues
Talkbacks, classroom guides and residencies keep the conversation alive for weeks.
Learning across departments
History, music, theatre, Africana studies, civic engagement and student life all find a seat.
Why it belongs on campus
Two thousand students.
One silence you can hear.
Why it belongs on campus
The story continues in every generation.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Ernie Wade at Wake Forest University. He is an outstanding speaker, educator and person."
"This play is about important American History. The music touches your soul and the dialogue has power."
wingate university
"THEIR STRUGGLE YOUR TURN." is both informative and inspiring. The words are inspiring and powerful. The music touches your soul. Time well spent.
Milwaukee technical community college
Built to fit the room you already have.
Date
Full 90-minute staging for 400–2,000 seats
Venue
Time
Intimate chamber version with acoustic score
Event
45-minute assembly adaptation with Q&A
Campus inquiry
Bring
THEIR STRUGGLE YOUR TURN
to your campus.
Tell us about your community, your season and your students. We’ll shape the experience — performance, residency or convocation — around the conversation your campus is ready to have.