FORGIVENESS | TIMES UNION - INTERVIEW

Ex-Kennedy Center VP, Albany Symphony embrace 'Forgiveness' in troubled times

Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Daniel Bernard Roumain's spoken word orchestral suite asks: can democracy survive without forgiveness?

by: Katherine Kiessling | September, 2025

“Every word of this piece is a loving embrace of where we could be.”

“One of the reasons why I’m thrilled that there’s a recording of the work is because Jan. 6 is a thing that happened that is actively being erased from the public consciousness.”

“Key to this entire investigation … is the admission that forgiveness begins with hurt: No one forgives you for being awesome.”