As an actor Jonathan has been trained and disciplined in many areas of stage and theater, using methods, techniques and improvisations. As a storyteller he brings to life characters, american history by using books, voice, sounds, costumes, first, third person interpretations to bring a story to life.Paul Robeson
“Jonathan Thompson’s depiction of Paul Robeson was relevant and insightful. His interactive presentation and the gist of his comments i.e., the importance of education, was exactly the type of message that students need to hear and judging from the response accepted without question.Paul Robeson was an athlete, singer, lawyer, and actor; he was a man for all seasons who broke the color barrier many times. It is 1957 and Robeson invites us into his dressing room where he is holding a press conference before a performance. He relives major events in his life journey from his birth in 1898 to his current success.His success was evident impart to the questions students ask. That, to me, indicated students were interested, engaged, and the message was not lost. Being familiar with Paul Robeson personally, I glad he told his story, and one he did so well!”
– Judge G. Kellam Scott,
Fmr Director, Indiana Civil Rights Commission.In 2004 Mr. Robeson was memorialized by a United States Postal Stamp as part of it's History Series. Robeson was awarded a four year academic scholarship to Rutgers University in 1915, the third black student in the history of the institution. Despite the openly racist and violent opposition he faced, Robeson became a twelve letter athlete excelling in baseball, basketball, football, and track. He was named to the All American Football team on two occasions. In addition to his athletic talents, Robeson was named a Phi Beta Kappa scholar, belonged to the Cap & Skull Honor Society, and graduated valedictorian of his class in 1919. His concert career reads like a world traveler’s passport: New York, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Germany, Paris, Holland, London, Moscow, and Nairobi. His travels taught him that racism was not as prevalent in Europe as it was back home.
Widely recognized from the musical Showboat, where he changed the lines of the song “Old Man River” to suit his philosophy because he felt the original lyrics were degrading.
George Washington Williams
George Washington Williams was born in Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania on October 16th, 1849. He first coined the term crimes against humanity after he witnessed the brutality of King Leopold’s Congo (1885-1908), in which 10 million people were to lose their lives.After a limited education and a stint in a “house of refuge” where he learned barbering, Williams enlisted in the Union Army under an assumed name when he was only 14 and fought during the final battles of the American Civil War.
Once back in civilian life, the young veteran decided to attend college and was accepted at Howard University. In 1870, he began studies at the Newton Theological Seminary. He met Sarah A. Sterrett during a visit to Chicago in 1873 and they were married the following spring. They had one son. After graduation, he was ordained as a Baptist minister and held several pastorates, including the historic Twelfth Baptist Church of Boston. With support from many of the leaders of his time such as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison, Williams founder of The Commoner, a monthly journal, in Washington, D.C. He was only able to publish eight issues.Williams moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he studied law. He later became the first African“ American elected to the Ohio State Legislature, serving one term 1880 to 1881. In 1885 , President Chester A. Arthur appointed to Haiti. He never served. Playing the part of George Washington Williams, Jonathan takes his audience on a 45 minute political journey of the 1870’s. In character, Jonathan addressing many of the issues faced by people of that time, This will provide a “Living Example” of how the politics of the 1870’s played a hand in ending slavery, and making the world a better place for all. Mr. Williams tells war stories as two infantry soldiers act out some of the scenes with stories and songs of the period.
Sam Jonas Underground Railroad
Jonathan Thompson’s portrayal of Sam Jonas Underground Railroad is powerful! This one man stage show presentation is touring all over the nation, in university’s, colleges, auditorium, synagogues, churches, public schools etc...You owe it to your organization and the community to have this performance come to your city and institution. Learn about the history, the story and the human spirit it took to endure the hardships of slavery and the overcoming spirit of a people to go from the Slave House to the White House! Take a journey on the Underground Railroad as Sam Jonas takes you through a vast network of people who helped fugitive slaves escape to the North. The railroad was not run by any single organization or person. Rather it consist of many individuals who knew only of the movement to aid fugitive slaves to a life of freedom. This is a historical presentation of the struggles, efforts, and workings of the Underground Railroad, and one man's quest to gain freedom from slavery.The story starts in West Africa, to the slave ship, the auction block, to life on the Hampton Plantation in South Carolina as a slave. He paints a living picture of life in the mid 1860’s.
With a strong desire to be free, he succeeds. This historical presentations comes to visual life to enhance history and knowledge. The over all goal is to use the setting to teach, life-skills, social enrichment and above all promoting reading and a better understanding.
