Spotlight Sundays: I Was There Too: A Performance by Meres-Sia Gabriel, Child of the Black Panther Party Revolution

Spotlight Sundays: I Was There Too: A Performance by Meres-Sia Gabriel, Child of the Black Panther Party Revolution

I Was There Too is a unique multimedia performance about one woman’s inner revolution as she struggles to understand what it means to have been born into the Black Panther Party. Daughter of two Black Panthers (Emory Douglas and Gayle Dickson), Meres-Sia Gabriel shares a first-hand account of what it was like to grow up in a revolution that changed the course of history. 

Through family photographs, archival images, personal narratives, live jazz and blues music, and original poetry reminiscent of the Black Arts Movement, Gabriel takes the audience on a soul-stirring journey. This performance weaves together a coming-of-age story shaped by powerful Black leaders and the impact of impoverishment, secrecy, and adults navigating the enormity of the movement. Gabriel’s showcase gives voice to the often-overlooked experience of the children of the Black Panther Party, bringing awareness and healing to this softer side of the resistance. 

I Was There Too is written, performed, and produced by Meres-Sia Gabriel. Directed by Ajuana Black and Musical Direction by Dr. Yafeu Tyhimba. 

About Meres-Sia Gabriel

Meres-Sia Gabriel was born and raised in Oakland, California. A graduate of Howard University and Middlebury College School in France / Université Sorbonne-Nouvelle, Meres-Sia received her master’s in French and has taught French, Language Arts, Writing, and Literature at various institutions. In addition to her artist practice, she is a college French instructor, a teacher consultant for the Bay Area Writing Project at UC Berkeley, and the founder of Life-Changing Writing where she helps writers discover their literary voice. 

She has performed in the Kehinde Wiley and Lhola Amira exhibitions at the de Young Museum of San Francisco and the Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum of san Francisco. Her poetry is featured in the “Black Power” installation at the Oakland Museum of California. Her poetry has also been featured in exhibitions of the Zapantera Negra project in Cuba, Chiapas, Vienna, and Spain. She is the bestselling author of a book of poetry and prose entitled I Twirl in the Smoke. And she is the co-author of the KQED and BE-IMAGINATIVE watch guide for the Emmy-nominated film When the Waters Get Deep. 

She contributed to the foreward of her father’s book Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas (Rizzoli Press) and toured with him for his exhibitions at Los Angeles MOCA, New Museum in New York, Urbis in Manchester, UK, and Universidad de la Tierra in Chiapas, MX. As a child of the Black Panther Party, Meres-Sia grew up in a movement that believed art should have a social message. Likewise, her work as a writer and performer beckons us to an inner revolution of self-reflection and personal healing. 

Meres-Sia is a 2023 recipient of grant awards from the California Arts Council, Center for Cultural Power, and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, which have allowed her to write and produce this one-woman show about her experiences growing up in the Black Panther Party.

About Ajuana Black

Ajuana Black is a powerhouse performer whose vibrant presence lights up every stage she touches. With over two decades of musical theater experience, she has starred in productions such as Dreamgirls (Lorrell), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Charlene), Once on This Island (Ti Moune), and Go Down Garvey. Ajuana also brought her dynamic storytelling to the screen, playing young Johnnie Gibson in the CBS movie The Johnnie Gibson Story, directed by Bill Duke and featuring Lynn Whitfield. Alongside her work in television and commercials, she wrote, produced, and performed her own deeply personal one-woman show MamaHOOD Wings, chronicling her journey into motherhood. Black’s creative impact extends behind the scenes as well—she directed and produced five full-scale middle school musicals, including The Wiz and Annie. This season marks her second as director of I Was There Too  the powerful and revealing one-woman show written and performed by Meres-Sia Gabriel. When she is not onstage or directing, audiences can catch her bringing down the house as the lead vocalist with some of the most entertaining, top-tier cover bands in the Bay Area. Whether on stage or behind the scenes, Black continues to uplift, electrify, and leave audiences moved—through both her commanding performances and her visionary collaborative work.

Accessibility

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email [email protected] at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.