An Octoroon By Brandenkins Summary

The theme of racism and prejudice was shown throughout the play, it was mainly displayed by the ranger and Tim’s cousin William. There were many examples of the theme of racism and prejudice such as the conversation between Peggy and her father the ranger, During the Conversation

The play uses stereotypes and biased cultural

Both sides show that discrimination can destroy the lives of many people who haven't done anything to deserve it. Discrimination can harm the people with a certain race which can be seen in the play when Rudy says, “Twenty sailors, Marines… They grabbed me by the neck and dragged me down the stairs, kicking and punching and pulling my greña.” on page 93 and in the real world the racism from Donald Trump inspired some americans to attack other races such as mexicans. Many people are discriminated by their looks and ethnicity like the 300 mexicans in the play who were arrested on page 28 to be identified as criminals when someone claims to be a victim of a crime and President Trump’s plan to build a wall along the border of Mexico to prevent drug dealers, rapists, and crime from entering the country. The message of the play about racism is still relevant in the real world because of the discrimination towards other races in both of the

“ Some of these early productions have racial themes which reorganize the world in such a way that black heritage is rewarded over white paternity; they are schematic renunciations of the prevailing order of things in white American society where, historically, the discovery of black blood meant sudden reversal of fortune, social exclusion, or banishment.” (Gaines, P.3) Within the movie the amount of mistruths about African Americans was sad. Within the movie you notice that the blacks were always or seem to be yelling, acting uncivilized and doing

the play are ―rich symbol[s]‖ that convey the barriers of a ―racist society‖ (Kenny par. 18). The

Throughout the story there is circus imagery, which is significant to the story in several ways. A circus is commonly known for being the entertainment for a large group of people and is also characterized by a variety of acts and events designed to arouse the awe and fascination of the crowds. The young African-American men in the story are forced to participate in a variety of events designed for the sole purpose of entertaining the crowd of white men. This is effective because it is very compelling in the way whites used to treat blacks. They looked at them such as "circus animals" and felt empowered to do whatever they wanted, making them look like clowns.

Though there was a heightened sense of tension over civil rights in the late 1950s when A Raisin in the Sun was written, racial inequality is still a problem today. It affects minorities of every age and dynamic, in more ways than one. Though nowadays it may go unnoticed, race in every aspect alters the way African-Americans think, behave, and react as human beings. This is shown in many ways in the play as we watch the characters interact. We see big ideas, failures, and family values through the eyes of a disadvantaged group during an unfortunate time in history. As Martin Luther King said, Blacks are “...harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what

The entertainment value is much more important than the false information being expressed in this play. For those that believe they are paying purely for the entertainment think about the lesson being taken away from the viewing. The perception of fighting for equality that is being expressed throughout the entertainment. Messages subtle and unsubtle both visually and verbally we are shown a coming to power story of an immigrant. Ready and willing to take this message because of the current state of our

In the film we see issues of race and racism as being a "white" problem, contrary to what we see in society as race and racism as being a "colored" problem. Victor and David Lee both make the statement that to be "American" is to be white. In society we usually see racism as individual acts of violence or discrimination towards others, but as David Lee points out, racism is an invisible system conferring unsought racial dominance by am oppressive group, mainly whites. "White power secures its dominance by seeming not to be anything in particular" (Lipsitz, 135). Victor says how he could get things his mother couldn't get just because his skin was a lighter black than hers. Lee then brings in a picture of Victor and his mother where the difference in skin color can be seen. Lee often brings in pictures of the participants of when they were young, and when they are with their families. This helps the viewers to draw more of identification with the characters.

The production spearheaded with a solemn poem by Langston Hughes entitled "Harlem." Preparing for an emotionally empowering theater piece, the poem quieted the audience and placed a serious blanket over us. While appropriate for me, I found it extremely coincidental that the poem's title, ties in directly with James Baldwin and his extensive writings on the 1943 Harlem race riots. With the lights off and just a solitary voice reciting the poem, it gave us, the audience, an immediate notion of play's melancholy style.

When looking at the origins of African-American Dramas specifically in Mulatto, Native Son, A Raisin in the Sun, Funnyhouse of a Negro, Great Goodness of Life, and Dutchman, the emotions of all these characters created the sense that everyone in this time were still searching for their identity. Each character in the plays had to overcome difficulties relating to their skin color, thus causing either confusion or confidence in their search for what defines them as their self. It created internal conflicts and they often blamed society for specific expectations and stereotypes. How the characters decided to express their feelings in emotions demonstrates a sense of realism and how they viewed themselves. In each play, we are able to see how the characters deal with the searching of their identity through various emotions and internal conflicts through their life choices.

I really enjoyed this play as it kept me wondering what will happen next and taught me some life lessons on how people react or make decisions. As I read on this play goes into the man Sergeant Vernon C. Waters personality and who he really was. We learn that Sergeant Waters hates being black and anyone who may exhibit black characteristics or stereotypes for example. For example in Act Two we learn that Sergeant Waters does not really like C.J. as he frames him and provokes him to attack so that he could be arrested for any reason. Sergeant Waters admits to this is Act Two and wanted C,J. arrested so the world would be free of one more simpleton colored boy. In Sergeant Waters’s

The Octoroon, classified as a slavery play, is a drama by Don Boucicault, that was performed by Queens College students and directed by professionals from the theater industry was a drama of a plantation life in Louisiana and miscegenation back in the day. The script for this play is divided into five acts and performed in two and half hours. Light turns on, and the first scene setting is a view of the plantation Terrebonne, during an unspecified year. Perhaps a time of slavery, Pre-civil war. Giving its audience a feel of the south, mainly Mississippi is seen winding through the Estate. The set is of its true authenticity, giving its viewers a trip down south. The right side of the stage has tables and chairs and the left side has a low-built planter dwelling, surrounded by an open space. In this sequence most of the main characters are introduced; Zoe, George Peyton, Jacob M’Closky, Pete, Dora and the many slaves. All the characters are dressed their part, which is what gives the audience members a truly authentic vibe.

Because the dated and white-biased perspective in Dion Boucicault’s The Octoroon does not hold up to modern conceptions of race in America, the play only remains useful for historical examination; Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, in his adaptation of the work, An Octoroon, examines the historical implications presented in Boucicault’s original work and transforms the story into one more appropriate for the modern era.

Dutchman written by Amiri Baraka is a perfect example of how race can play in important part in how you are perceived. In this story a powerful middle-aged white women tries to seduce a younger aged African-American man that presented himself as intelligent and well dressed. This play was written during a time when our world was very closed minded about race specifically with those who were of color. In the early 1960’s white was the major race and white americans were who were superior to those of color. Later on in the 1960’s is when African-Americans started to fight for full and equal rights. They wanted to not be used or treated as if they were not humans. Majority of African-American families were lower class and poor because that is how society viewed and valued them. If you were not white you did not mean anything or have anything of value. Usually they were slaves for white families and were told to do as they instructed. This provoked for the Civil Rights Movement. That eventually lead to African-Americans having the same privileges as Whites. Now many years later we would think racism and discrimination does not happen but it does daily. Tying all this together was a play called Dutchman. Which is a strong play that expresses race and how racism is the dominate trait in the story and also stereotyping african americans.