Students from Morgan State University and Towson University came together to share an inspiring story. The story of the African-American flag is a quiet, but important one.

Twenty O’ Two is the story of two girls, Chloe and Kaylah Harvey, piecing together their father’s portrait after his sudden death while he was planning to promote the African-American flag. The play is based on the true story of David and Tonya Harvey and their journey creating the African-American flag. 

This story was written by the Harvey sisters, students at Towson University. Their parents, David and Tonya Harvey, attended Morgan State University and Coppin State University. The couple created the flag after their first year of marriage. 

The flag features seven colors and two symbols. 

The black stripe represented African-Americans nearness to regality, the gold stripe represented the riches of Africa, the green stripe represented the abundant life in Africa, the purple base represented the regal history of African-Americans, and the red, white, and blue stripes represented the integral part African-Americans play, have played, and will have played in America. 

The gold flashes of light represented what radiates off of African-Americans: love, knowledge, perseverance, and spirituality. Finally, the eight pointed black star represented each individual African-American. 

Keyana Lang, junior physical education major and theater minor, who played the character, ‘Pricee’ said, “I feel like with us being HBCU students and going to the school where they went, I feel like it’s a sense of pride.” 

Students in the past have been unsure of what the flag hanging over the football stadium represented. Now, with this play at both universities, more students will be keen to learn about the flag and why it is so inspirational.

Gregory Towley Jr., sophomore theater arts major and business administration minor, played the roles of ‘Steve’ and ‘Pop Pop.” 

Towley said, “I really hope that the audience pays attention to the little things and just understands that whatever dreams you do have, you have to go after it and be ready to face obstacles, be ready, and see that vision that you are.”

Jordan Boyd, sophomore theater major and computer networking minor, played a TV host, a radio host, a cousin, and David Harvey.

Boyd said, “I’d also like the audience to grasp something along in the play. There’s a conversation in the play dealing with acronyms. I really would like the audience to really grasp the acronyms.”

Boyd continued to say each word in the play has a meaning and is key for the audience to truly understand the meaning of the play and the flag. 

The students participating in the play hope to alert not just their student body’s, but the greater African-American community about the flag and all it means to them. They aspire to remind them about the legacy and impact the flag has and will continue to have as the years go on. 

Janice Short, coordinator of theater arts who also coordinated the connection between Towson and Morgan, said, “The first convocation of this February we did a flag dedication for the African-American flag and it’s now going to be an annual convocation. That will kick off Black History Month every February.” 

Towler, Lang, and Boyd have all experienced their excitement for working with students from Towson to bring this play to life. 

“Us being at Morgan State, we see each other every day, but this play has given us the opportunity to not only work with different actors around the local area, but also work with black actors. We all get to connect and understand just how blessed we are to be able to tell a story,” said Towler. 

This story will be shown at both Morgan and Towson as students from both schools work to spread the story and significance of the African-American flag.

Opening night at Towson University was March 2 and the play ran until March 4. Opening night at Morgan State University will be March 9 and 10.