Commemorating Katrina's Anniversary in New Orleans via Drama and Rap Music

In the heart of New Orleans, a small home studio echoes with the rhythm of hope and resilience. This is where Anthony Bean's original work, "504 NOLA," is being performed. This youth-centered hip-hop play aims to shed light on the untold stories of the younger heroes of Hurricane Katrina.

Anthony Bean, the driving force behind this powerful production, is not just a playwright but also the founder of a community theater. His mission is to preserve and honour the history of New Orleans through art, storytelling, and hip-hop.

"504 NOLA" captures the resilience of the Ninth Ward and New Orleans as a whole, showcasing their ability to create and rebuild despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Katrina. The play includes compelling scenes that symbolise the rain during the hurricane, with an umbrella opening dramatically in the dark, and the breached levees, represented by dancers embodying the Mississippi River.

The play also highlights the brave actions of young people during the hurricane. One such story is of a 20-year-old individual who, much like Harriet Tubman, helped evacuate his family and others. However, many of these stories have been overlooked, with the focus often on the adult heroes of the time.

Bean's play seeks to change this narrative by focusing on the resilience of the Ninth Ward's young people. The play features performers who were born in the years after Hurricane Katrina, ensuring that the voices of the generation that lived through the aftermath are heard.

Moreover, "504 NOLA" addresses the attempt to turn the Lower Ninth Ward, a predominantly Black and poor community, into a green space after the hurricane, with the intention of keeping Black residents out. This is a crucial aspect of the play, as it underscores the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in New Orleans.

Bean believes that these young heroes' stories have been erased and there is no proof of their life-saving actions. By bringing their stories to the stage, he hopes to ensure that their courage and determination are never forgotten.

As the city of New Orleans remembers the events of 20 years ago, "504 NOLA" serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of its people and the power of art to heal and inspire. This is a play that is not just about the past, but about the future of New Orleans and its young heroes.