Ten years ago, a young man and a group of young ladies were invited to present on the arts in the 6th Annual City of Selma Youth Conference. What came from the presentation is now very timely history.
The play was written, directed and produced in 2014 by the group that included Asher HaVon, who is now competing to win “The Voice” competition on NBC. HaVon played the role of children choir director. He welcomed all ages from elementary to high school and had them all repeating “I am not a statistic” — also the name of the stage play.
Tresher Rivers, who was a third grader allowed onstage at the time, is now days from graduating high school and being off to college. “I looked back at our videos. We learned more than sing,” she stated. He kept telling us little kids, and big ones too, “It’s not where you come from, it’s where you’re headed.”
HaVon learned to sing at an early age and was encouraged by his Selma family and supporters. His elementary teacher Joslyn Reddick showed him to sing in her classroom as a small child.
And so. Heading to the big stage and city lights would find Asher a whole decade later. He stepped into the limelight of “The Voice” and America fell in love with him. He is a finalist to win it all on Tuesday. The rest of the country got to experience what Selma, Alabama, already knew—a star was born three decades ago.
All that he dreamed of as a child. All that he wrote about. All the doors he wanted to walk through. All the stages he took a mic to. All that he worked for. The product of all of these things was now staring him in the face. He knocked again. This time, the door opened.
He conquered auditions and mastered every round of competition. Asher HaVon, the man from Selma, located in the Black Belt of Alabama, is still standing in The Voice competition.
It’s the final rodeo. Selma stands with Asher. Monday—only one performance remains. Tuesday—Selma will watch together as the 2024 winner is announced. Then, Selma shall celebrate some more.
“I have no doubt in my mind that he will win,” smiled his mother, Joanne Smith, at a watch party for his semifinals performance at Reflections Coffee Shoppe.
“The entire city should come out and celebrate, and I believe they will,” Glenys Dukes, a committee member, told the Selma Sun. “Let’s make this a day to remember, a day that Selma lands on top together.”
“I’m going to participate with my hometown leading up to the watch party in a special way this time around,” Asher said. “I’m sending an audio-visual love note personally from me. Look for it because it’s on the way. I love my city so much, and I am thankful that my city loves me right back.”
You can vote at the official app for The Voice or at NBC.com/VoiceVote. Each email address has a vote.
The Team Asher committee is asking everyone to participate in all activities leading up to Monday and Tuesday. The venue for the final voting watch party and the grand finale gathering will both be announced through all media platforms.
