Racism in Mind

So I'm in a play right now called Trouble in Mind, by the African-American playwright Alice Childress. It was written in the 1950s, right before the burgeoning of the Civil Rights movement and actually was almost the first play written by an African-American woman to be produced on Broadway (it was beat out by Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun instead because when Childress' producers asked her to change the play's ending to make it 'nicer' and less racially charged, she refused). The play takes place in the 50's 'behind the scenes' of an anti-lynch play being produced but all we see is the rehearsal process of the play-within-the-play. Centered around Wiletta, the play's protagonist, a middle-aged African-American actress who's had to compromise all of her career playing stereotyped 'Black Mammy's and the like, the play itself tackles racial tensions on the sides of whites and blacks in the cast and confronts the most insidious form of racism that even exists today-that of subtle and silent 'acceptance' of the 'other'.

Okay. So enough exposition. My first post about this show is a concern of mine, I suppose. Naturally in the cast there are white and black members and we're all honestly friends with each other. Going into this play about a cast of a multi-racial cast going into a play in which they feel themselves 'above' racism is a little wierd. All of us in the cast have to confront our prejudices, hidden as they may seem. It's a very humbling experience and also a very vulnerable one, which is the brilliance of Childress' writing then-she's written a trap! Anyone in the show absolutely has to confront their racism, their prejudice, their stereotypes-and the best part is, we all get to do it together, on stage, out in the open. Tonight was rehearsal one for this show so we'll see where it goes! I'm excited.

Check out the showdates and please plan on coming out to see it! It's in the Greer Garson theatre (if you don't know where it is, ask me. It's on Meadow's 1st floor). It's only 5$ for a good reason.

Wednesday, February 27- 8 pm
Thursday, February 28- 8 pm

Friday, February 29- 8 pm

Saturday, March 1- 2pm and 8 pm

Sunday, March 2- 2 pm

Ryan