Empowering students through entertainment, one FAU student feels he is strong enough to stand up to HIV.
Devin T. Robinson, known by his audiences as “Egypt,” claims his goal is to fight the disease with the power of knowledge. Although he is not HIV positive, Robinson says bringing awareness is his mission because too many people are being infected by “a virus that can easily be defeated.”
Robinson and his one-man show “God Did Not Give Me HIV” attempts to make that goal a reality, bringing HIV/AIDS awareness with the use of monologues, poetry and short skits. In fact, Robinson has been bringing attention to this deadly disease through his one-man show for the past three years.
“I don’t have to be famous to help,” the senior theater major says. “We can all do our part in the cause.”
As well as his stage name, Robinson also often performs in Afrocentric clothing under the name Devin T. Robinson X to bring a cultural aspect to his performances. The “X,” he says, represents his unknown African heritage.
Robinson may not be famous yet, but he has brought his one-man show and dedication to awareness to the Apollo Theater in New York and has appeared on MTV, BET and NBC, as well as write-ups in Seventeen and HIV Plus magazines.
With his show “God Did Not Give Me HIV,” Robinson, who also owns his own company called AIDS Awareness Poets, Inc., tries to educate his audiences on how they can make a difference in the effort to prevent and cure the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Set up in the form of several poems, speeches and monologues, ranging from comedic to dramatic one-to-three-minute performances, or “confessional narratives” as he likes to call them, Robinson says he likes to “mix it up” to keep his audiences entertained and informed.
“Everyone’s young,” says Robinson, who will be performing his one-man show at the FAU Boca campus on Nov. 14. “When you’re trying to learn something, [it’s important] that your audience is having fun in the process.”
The show, hosted by 99 Jamz’s Supa Cindy and sponsored by the Black Student Union, will also include comedy.
“Key factors in the performance include comedy and spontaneity, [as well as] being informative,” notes Robinson, who says he strives to create a dynamic stage presence like comedians Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy in order to get his message across.
The show will also feature performances by Blanche Ely High School’s step team and opening acts by local poets and musicians. The show concludes with what Robinson calls “the speech.”
“The speech is where I bring everything together,” Robinson says. “We gotta talk and have a heart to heart conversation.”
Robinson says much of his inspiration comes from his family and humble upbringing. At age 12, he was left in the care of his older sister Chasity after his mom died and father left him.
“I decided to take revenge on the world in a different way,” he says describing his passion. “I decided to make a difference.”
Robinson will be performing his one-man show on Nov. 14 at the Lifelong Learning Center on the Boca campus. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.
For more information on Robinson and his local performances, visit www.robinsonx.com.