REST IN PEACE, POWER AND PARADISE duction of Ain’t No Grave, featuring former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb. enver lost an icon on Oct. 12, “It was a joy working with Ken,” says 2023 when “Baba” Ken Grimes, a wellbetts, discussing his most recent project respected elder in the community, succelebrating Justina Ford’s 150th birthcumbed to complications caused by By Christen Aldridge day at the Colorado History Museum. Keel remembers her friend’s exciteamyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at ment when his play Uncle Jed’s the age of 74. Known for his contribBarbershop, received exposure in New utions to local theater as a playwright, York City. “He was so excited!” she says. “It was director and actor, friends and family are mourngreat to see him so happy.” In 2015, he shared ing the loss of an incredibly special man. his hopes that Uncle Jed’s Barbershop would Denver Urban Spectrum reflects on the ways change Denver from an importer to an exporter in which Grimes’ work and storytelling positively of Black artists. impacted people living in the Denver metro area. Actor Dwayne Carrington remembers working Those close to him share memories and pay tribwith Grimes in The Meeting, a production imaginute to a legacy of love, leadership, creativity and ing a sit-down between civil rights leaders Rev. community involvement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. “He Grimes was a Renaissance man, working in embodied that role so well,” says Carrington, all aspects of theatrical production. He was good who played Rev. King. friends with the late Jeffrey Nickelson, owner of Dave Engleton, who was introduced to Shadow Theater Company, and created a theatriGrimes by his then-girlfriend, calls his friend a cal rendition of Uncle Jed’s Barbershop, which “Man of the People,” and remembers being hesipremiered at the theater. Like so many of tant to ask him to serve on the board of directors Colorado’s treasured elders, Grimes’ dedication for his nonprofit, Multicultural Events Network. “I served as the heartbeat of Denver’s Black comwas so nervous. I was praying he would accept munity. He instilled wisdom in everyone he the offer.” Engleton later invited Grimes to be a encountered and carried on a legacy of greatness guest facilitator for a writer’s group he created with a few friends from the through cultural arts. Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop Novel Writing class, “Humboldt Street.” “We plant the seeds that will grow trees and bear fruit that we will not eat,” The Humboldt Street group welcomed Grimes with open arms. The group was community activist, Brother Jeff, recalls, saying that is what Grimes was all about. comprised of writers he’d known and worked with for several years, including Jane A Denver native and Colorado State University alum with an affinity for the arts Treat, Norma Johnson and Susan Kaplan. Even as his disease progressed and he and nature, his passion and love for Black culture inspired his writing. In addition lost the ability to speak, he remained present and active, helping the group with to working as an English and theater teacher for Denver Public Schools, he was their writing. active in providing leadership for local youth. He worked as a 4-H Youth “He wrote a piece called ‘Body,’ and it was about what his body was going Development Agent at CSU Denver Extension and devoted over 23 years of servthrough with ALS,” says Treat, who helped with transcription when he lost the abilice to the organization’s STEM programming for young people. ity to move his hands. After the passing of his close friend and storyteller, Opalanga Pugh, he coGrimes received his ALS diagnosis too late after initially being misdiagnosed. authored a book about her life and healing and carried on the tradition of storytellDespite relief from finally having answers, his family had difficulty coping with the ing as a gift to the community. His commitment to sharing African folktales and his diagnosis. own culturally significant stories earned the title “Baba,” a connotation honoring “It was frustrating because we missed out on resources to help him early on in respected male elders in African communities. the disease,” his son, Troy Grimes, says. Grimes assumed Pugh’s role as the community storyteller. He spearheaded Those closest to him are left with pleasant memories of their time together. “He the Opalanga Pugh Children’s Pavilion at the Colorado Black Arts Festival (CBAF), would take us skiing, hiking, and camping,” his brother, Jerry, adds. where he carried on her legacy for children in the community. “My kids remember He was a devoted father and husband. He was married to his wife, Geraldine how animated he was and his amazing stories,” says Dana Manyothane, former “Gerie” Grimes, for 52 years before she passed away in 2022. He is survived by CBAF executive director and niece of the late CBAF Founder and Artistic Director two sons, Troy and Aaron Grimes, 16 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. Perry Ayers. “Our father made us who we are now,” Aaron says of his devout Christian Members of Grimes’ theater family, donnie betts, Jo Bunton Keel, Roslyn father. “He thought of himself as a helpful servant to God, and he taught us to be Washington, and Dwayne Carrington remember life working with the theater titan. helpful servants in our lives – servants to God while also being helpful to others.” “He was my brother,” Washington describes. “We were like a family, working As Grimes’ closest friends and family share stories about his life, legacy, art days and nights together.” and love for the community, his memory lives on in the hearts of many. His combetts recalls, “He was a very tall, gentle person. A great soul, friend, and themitment to the people of Denver will be remembered long after this chapter ater buddy.” Grimes worked with betts on several performances as part of the ends.. Black Arts Movement at Eulipions Theater. They also worked together on a pro-
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Remembering “Baba” Ken Grimes
The life and legacy of Denver’s beloved storyteller.
Denver Urban Spectrum — www.denverurbanspectrum.com – November 2023
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