Programs offered by Becton Tours
1.Samuel D. Burris Speaks
This is a one hour educational and interpretive program. I will appear in 19th Century style clothing and present a first person impression of a Conductor on the Underground Railroad. I will discuss the origins of the Underground Railroad, With commentary on Burris' life and adventures .
2. The Black Soldier in the American Revolutionary War
This is a one hour educational, interactive and interpretive program to demonstrate camp life and discuss the struggle for African inclusion in the Continental army. The presenter appears in authentic 18th century clothing and equipment. The presentation uses an array of techniques to tell the story; Lecture, Q&A's,(Who will join the army?) activity, demonstrations, and music. The performance has four major objectives; identifying, the reasons for the war, conditions of camp life, demonstrating the equipment and explaining that war is not good. This presentation has been delivered in tens of schools, churches, colleges, libraries and at Fort Mifflin for groups young and old. By presenting these stories of Black of soldiers free or enslaved, rebel or loyalist, the hero "Jack Sisson" and the forgotten, I illuminate their forgotten service at the birth of the nation.
3 .Music of the Underground Railroad
This is a one hour Interpretive and interactive program. On the music associated with the Underground Railroad and America's attempt to define Freedom. The presenter will be dressed in period garb and play guitar and harmonica. He will play and sing 19th Century freedom and popular songs, from Oh Freedom to the Colored Soldier. Group participation is highly encouraged.
4. Joe Becton’s Evolution of the Blues
Dressed is African style garb, Joe Becton sings and plays traditional musical instruments (guitar and harmonica) as he takes participants on a walk through American history and music from Sy Gillat to John Coltrane. He traces the styles of music developed by Africans in America and the collision of cultures that created the music we call gospel, jazz and blues.
5. Music of the Civil War era
This is a one hour interactive musical and interpretive program. The presenters appear in 19th century style clothing and equipment. They interpret music from Francis Johnson,1830's to Julia Ward Howe 1860's. They perform styles including spirituals, underground railroad songs, minstrel songs, and camp songs on guitar, flute, harmonica and voice . Each song is accompanied by a story which frames the song in its historic context. Group participation is highly encouraged.
6.The African Soldier in the Civil War
This is a one hour interpretive presentation of the Service of Blacks at Camp William Penn andin the Civil war. The presenter appears in 19th century style Grab and demonstrates period equipment. The program will discuss the reasons for the war, the difficult struggle blacks fought to serve, unequal paid, and Camp life. Each presentation includes a poem or song.
7. Philadelphia and the Underground Railroad
This is a one hour historical and Interpretive program on the struggle to gain and define freedom. Dressed in 19th century style clothes the presenter will tell the story of the fight for freedom, in the fields, government, churches and battle fields from the slave ships to the Civil War.
Becton Tours offers an array of lectures:
1.Samuel D. Burris Speaks
This is a one hour educational and interpretive program. I will appear in 19th Century style clothing and present a first person impression of a Conductor on the Underground Railroad. I will discuss the origins of the Underground Railroad, With commentary on Burris' life and adventures .
2. The Black Soldier in the American Revolutionary War
This is a one hour educational, interactive and interpretive program to demonstrate camp life and discuss the struggle for African inclusion in the Continental army. The presenter appears in authentic 18th century clothing and equipment. The presentation uses an array of techniques to tell the story; Lecture, Q&A's,(Who will join the army?) activity, demonstrations, and music. The performance has four major objectives; identifying, the reasons for the war, conditions of camp life, demonstrating the equipment and explaining that war is not good. This presentation has been delivered in tens of schools, churches, colleges, libraries and at Fort Mifflin for groups young and old. By presenting these stories of Black of soldiers free or enslaved, rebel or loyalist, the hero "Jack Sisson" and the forgotten, I illuminate their forgotten service at the birth of the nation.
3 .Music of the Underground Railroad
This is a one hour Interpretive and interactive program. On the music associated with the Underground Railroad and America's attempt to define Freedom. The presenter will be dressed in period garb and play guitar and harmonica. He will play and sing 19th Century freedom and popular songs, from Oh Freedom to the Colored Soldier. Group participation is highly encouraged.
4. Joe Becton’s Evolution of the Blues
Dressed is African style garb, Joe Becton sings and plays traditional musical instruments (guitar and harmonica) as he takes participants on a walk through American history and music from Sy Gillat to John Coltrane. He traces the styles of music developed by Africans in America and the collision of cultures that created the music we call gospel, jazz and blues.
5. Music of the Civil War era
This is a one hour interactive musical and interpretive program. The presenters appear in 19th century style clothing and equipment. They interpret music from Francis Johnson,1830's to Julia Ward Howe 1860's. They perform styles including spirituals, underground railroad songs, minstrel songs, and camp songs on guitar, flute, harmonica and voice . Each song is accompanied by a story which frames the song in its historic context. Group participation is highly encouraged.
6.The African Soldier in the Civil War
This is a one hour interpretive presentation of the Service of Blacks at Camp William Penn andin the Civil war. The presenter appears in 19th century style Grab and demonstrates period equipment. The program will discuss the reasons for the war, the difficult struggle blacks fought to serve, unequal paid, and Camp life. Each presentation includes a poem or song.
7. Philadelphia and the Underground Railroad
This is a one hour historical and Interpretive program on the struggle to gain and define freedom. Dressed in 19th century style clothes the presenter will tell the story of the fight for freedom, in the fields, government, churches and battle fields from the slave ships to the Civil War.
Becton Tours offers an array of lectures:
- The African Soldier in the Civil War
- Camp William Penn
- Black Philadelphia and the Civil War
- Music of the Civil War Era
- Emancipation Proclamation and the U.S. Civil War
- James Forten
- "Now or Never" Frederick Douglas recruitment speech
- Music of the Underground Railroad
- Camp Songs of the Underground Railroad
- History of the Blues
- Evolution of the Blues
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