WHAT VIPROM MEANS TO ME
Left to right: Blossom Freeman, Oscar Nicholson, Brandon Armstrong, and Destiny Brown, Baltimore School for the Arts Prom 2019.
Photo by Tahir Juba (@juba_productions)
A great song can carry us through, take us away, and remind us of the extraordinary things discovered within the human spirit. Some of my favorite memories are tied to the music that was playing when those moments occurred. Tunes like The Climb by Miley Cyrus, the song my class sang at high school graduation and The London by J. Cole, a song that was coincidentally released the same day that I arrived in London for my senior class trip have become elemental in the soundtrack of my life. Anytime I hear Nonstop by Drake, I flashback to when I heard the song playing in my neighborhood of Charles Village. My mother, driving in her car behind me with her windows rolled down and radio turned up, honked her horn the whole way to ensure everyone knew that it was a special night, senior prom.
Photo by Tahir Juba (@juba_productions)
Senior prom isn’t just a night for seniors and other high school students. It’s also for the parents, family, community members, and teachers who are involved as well. Prom is a time of coming together that symbolizes one of the biggest milestones in high school. Because of the current coronavirus pandemic every aspect of society has been seriously affected, including the Class of 2020. Not only was all in-person schooling abruptly pulled to a halt, but so were the events that make senior year so special including senior portraits, graduation, and of course prom.
In these moments filled with loneliness, quarantine, and questioning what happens next, it becomes more important than ever for the community to lean on each other for support. The silver lining is that we will not come out of this moment in history the same way that we entered. The gift of everyday human interaction is less likely to be taken for granted now that we know what it’s like to have it taken away, or as poet Adrienne Rich puts it, “The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.” This quarantine period has revealed to me how fortunate I am to be healthy, sheltered, and alive. Additionally, if it weren’t for the fact that I skipped the 1st grade, I too would be a member of the Class of 2020. The reason I am a part of Wide Angle’s Virtual Iconic Prom (VIProm) 2020 committee and doing everything in my power to still give the students a memorable year is simply because it’s what I would’ve wanted someone to do for me.
“The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.”
This year’s prom is going to look very different from the dances of years past. But that doesn’t mean this important rite of passage has to be any less celebratory or meaningful, just less crowded. Also it will have a different soundtrack, one that includes music made by Baltimoreans for Baltimoreans. Wide Angle’s VIP 2020 will feature live performances from talented local artists like Julien Chang (internationally-signed and currently studying at Princeton University) and John Tyler (created 3 jazz albums before the age of 20). This event is meant to be a pick-me-up for the Class of 2020, 2021, and all the other high schoolers who are feeling left out and let down. Wide Angle’s virtual prom will not be some substandard substitute for real prom, thanks to all the help and support we’ve been able to receive from the community. Our event will entail a live DJ, cash prizes, TikTok dance battles, live performances, a virtual photo booth, and even more surprises to come.
While prom tickets are reserved for high schoolers, everyone is invited to partake in the festivities by tuning in on Wide Angle Youth Media’s Facebook or Instagram on May 9th from 7 PM to 11 PM EST to watch the entire event live. VIProm 2020 will provide a fun opportunity for the entire community to share in an experience together, a means to connect with others locally and globally who feel disconnected too.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Destiny Brown is a young filmmaker and actress born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She began at Wide Angle as the lead actress for a CSX train safety video, and over the years has transitioned into an Assistant Producer and Youth Ambassador. She is also part of the Youth Advisory Council and wants to be on the Board one day. Destiny has created a national award-winning film, traveled to South Africa to film internationally, and has spoken on numerous panels including Light City and Grantmakers for Education. She attends New York University (NYU), studying acting and theater, while also working as a Video Generalist at the Stern School of Business at NYU.