James Chapman's voice resounded in Collis Common Ground last night as a captivated audience hung on his every word. The playwright and actor was addressing social issues affecting African American women, and the medium was "What About Black Womyn?" his uniquely entertaining and informative drama.
Chapman developed a rapport with the audience by speaking informally before the production began. Describing his aims in writing "What About Black Womyn?" Chapman said that it "does not seek to be a definitive statement," but rather to raise questions and "provoke meaningful and substantive dialogue."
The dedication of the play to friends of Chapman's whose lives have been complicated by drugs, financial turmoil and the HIV virus created an intimate atmosphere in which the reality of the characters' problems could be made real to the audience.
Three actors read the play on a stage devoid of scenery, props and costumes. Blackness permeated the setting as each black-clad actor stood before a black backdrop with manuscripts in hand. This sparseness allowed the actors' powerful performances to dominate.
The three female characters related the trauma and despair they felt as black women infected with the HIV virus. Billie, a drag queen played by Chapman himself, represents the fantasy that many black women hold in their "quest for womanhood." In a desperate attempt to preserve hope, Billie seeks a relationship with a man who will grant her a sense of self-worth. Ironically Billie is willing to lie and degrade herself to achieve this goal since she believes that "a piece of a man is better than no man."
Ruth (Conia LaTrice Almon), a crackhead, searches for the stereotypical black man to compensate for her ignorance and endow her with a sense of identity. Raised by white foster parents, Ruth does not truly perceive her blackness until she is nineteen years old.
Ruth's naivete lets her fall prey to a pimp who -- incredibly -- convinces her that crack is the only method by which the black race can survive in a white world. Although Ruth desires love and affection, she is unable to attain them and ultimately is left alone to care for her crack-addicted child.
Naomi (Lorraine Hemphill), differs from Billie and Ruth because she maintains hope despite her past experiences. Degraded and objectified by her now deceased gay husband who paradoxically used her solely as a means of masturbation, Naomi also lost her son to drug abuse and suicide. Despite these losses, Naomi is able to create peace within herself and continue struggling.
Throughout the play Naomi presents a rational, optimistic alternative to the dismal, futile attitudes held by Billie and Ruth; it is she who pleads with them to spare themselves when they contemplate suicide. She preaches against hatred and self-blame and conveys the play's ultimate message, that peace and empowerment are found internally and life, no matter how brief, should be fully lived.
The simplicity of the setting and the actors' strong performances heightened the urgency of the message. The occassional interjection of slave songs effectively evinced the historical oppression of black women and stirred a sense of moral indignation at their plight. All these elements combined to create a moving masterpiece in which one's awareness of oppression is heightened.
Directly following the production, Chapman again addressed the audience and answered questions. Among issues discussed were the need for black women to see themselves as whole, the dissolution of the myth that black men are irresponsible and the evolving generation of black men who maintain greater respect for black women.
The actors and playwright are part of Living The Dream, Inc., a theater company based in Columbus, Ohio. The reading marked the start of Delta Sigma Theta sorority's tenth anniversary celebration. "What About Black Womyn?" is a sequel to "Our Young Black Men Are Dying and Nobody Seems to Care," which Living The Dream Inc. performed at the College in 1991.
