By Arlene Edmonds
For MONGOMERY MEDIA
Germantown >> Ursula Rucker, of Germantown, premiered her epic
poem “My Father’s Daughter” recently. This was a collaboration with
guitarist Tim Motzer. It was a cathartic memoir-type live journal
integrating spoken word, poetry, songs and video imagery. It was held at
the Prince Theater of the Annenberg Center for Performing Arts in West
Philadelphia on Friday, Feb. 6, and Saturday, Feb. 7.
For Rucker,
who grew up in Mount Airy attending the old Cecilian Academy, this
marked a pivotal turning point in her career. While she has traveled
throughout the country and abroad with her work and even worked with The
Roots, Silent Poet, Josh Wink and King Britt, this was different. It
was something that she had worked on for two decades, and though it was
her story, it also involved airing her family of origin’s dirty laundry.
As
a precursor to the Annenberg performance, Rucker delivered portions of
her epic poem at her home church, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church of
Germantown, 109 E. Price St., on Sunday, Feb. 1. After the morning
Mass, all were invited to the fellowship hall for refreshments as Rucker
opened the Black History Month series.
The artist’s mother,
Palmina Rucker, of Mount Airy, recalled how the title of the epic poem
came about. It was during a heated moment in their household that her
late husband reminded Ursula Rucker that “she was her father’s
daughter,” according to Palmina Rucker, a member of the St. Therese
Church in the Holy Cross community.
“I am very proud of Ursula’s
courage in doing this work,” Palmina Rucker said. “So many people don’t
get to do what they love and express what they want to say. This is what
she’s always wanted to do. This is her story. I just praise God that
she did this at her church, and I hope that God will always have a hand
in whatever she does.”
The Rev. Sy Peterka, pastor of St.
Vincent’s, called Ursula Rucker “one of the treasures in our own
backyard.” Peterka came to the parish last year after serving at a
congregation in Baltimore. He was a frequent guest preacher at the
Shrine of the Miraculous Medal in Germantown. So when he was planning
the church’s Black History Month program, many congregants suggested
that Ursula Rucker be included.
“I thought her presentation was
powerful,” Peterka said. “It’s amazing that she was able to recite each
poem that was more than five minutes long from memory. She did in such a
real manner with so much passion and even using song. So many just told
me that they were moved by it.
“I am glad she selected the poems
from her collection that were related to Black History Month. I didn’t
realize that she had so much expertise. The crowd just found her to be
so refreshing. We were all very touched by the poems and we were just
blessed to have her,” Peterka said.
Rucker, who is half African
American and half Italian, wrote “My Father’s Daughter” inspired by
telling the story of her parent’s interracial marriage and sometimes
violent relationship. This is one of her first major works after she
made her fifth album, “She Said,” more than four years ago. This is a
story she openly shared at St. Vincent’s in the presence of not only her
church family but three of her four sons who were in the audience.
For
the artist, performing comes easily. She has taken her work abroad to
the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Australian Freedom Festival, Amnesty’s
global “Stop Violence against Women” and even concerts in Fabrick,
Hamburg, in Germany. It was in 2001 she recorded her debut album, “Supa
Sister,” and then came works like “Silver & Lead” in 2003, “Ma’at
Mama” in 2006 and “She Said” in 2010. Since 2009, she has held a
teaching residence at the Muhlenberg College.
The Philadelphia
Mural Arts Program unveiled the “You Go, Girl” wall portrait of Ursula
Rucker last spring. This is located next to the Art Garage at 1531 Ridge
Ave. The larger-than-life mural features the poet’s profile and
shoulders as she adorns only a scarf, a gold hooped earring and the
words from her poetry crossing from the red brick wall across her black
and white image.
Yet Rucker continues to take her career in stride.
“I
get my inspiration from just being awake,” Rucker said. “I am a child
of God, and I am tolerant of other people’s experiences. I am respectful
of others. I am humbled by the fact that as I look at the world around
me I see what’s going on and sometimes I don’t like what I see. So, I
write about it. I also share art as an option for those who are
[restructuring] their lives.”
