There are those among us that believe the United States should walk in lockstep. Your face should be my face. Your music, books, skills, talents, and life should be like mine. Last night (Wednesday, 18 September 2019) on America’s Got Talent(AGT), ten acts were competing for the top prize and a Las Vegas show. Ultimately, each competitor or act was bringing to the stage a dream to make their lives better.
I usually don’t watch AGT. Often it seems that the performances are more circus acts, thrilling, body beautiful, my dog is better than yours and, they indeed were. This season of AGT caught my attention as performance after performance whittled the cast to the finalists. Each finalist had and has a story of how they came to be on AGT. Some were tragic tales of illness, death, poverty, and war. Some were silly because they wanted to be on the television stage. Still, others had been encouraged to live their talent, never believing that they were unique enough to attempt building a career. I also don’t like the America vote. The vote feels rigged, ten votes for each performer via all of your electronic devices, seriously, a vote like that could bring a winner forward with no talent.
During the auditions, a ten-year-old opera singer surprised and delighted me. A violinist astonished me with his fire and virtuosity. Youth choirs from Detroit and South Africa, by their talent and hard work, showed a level of commitment by their communities and families to changing lives. Acrobatics and dance brought performers from India, Ukraine. Comedians of all shapes and sizes, and not a one with a picture-perfect body. Singers who wrote what they sang, inviting us into their story, allowing us to write our own. Young, old, and every age in between, differently-abled one and all. So I paid attention this year.
I am delighted that AGT, gave us a portrait of America as we are, diverse people, building something new and holding dear to the best of all of us. I would encourage you to look at these ten talents to see us anew.
Quartet: Voices of Service
Youth Choirs: Detroit Youth Choir – Detroit, Michigan
Ndlovu Youth Choir – South Africa
Opera Singer: Emanne Beasha
Musical Savant: Kodi Lee
Singer, guitarist, composer, writer: Benicio Bryant
Violinist: Tyler Butler-Figueroa
Comedian: Ryan Niemiller
Dance crews/Acrobatics: V. Unbeatable
Dance /Light Experience: Light Balance Kids Shine Bright.
