Member-only story

African American Lynching Plays Performance and Citizenship: 1890-1930 (New Black Studies)

Jackson Blair

·11.6k Followers· Follow

Published in Living With Lynching: African American Lynching Plays Performance And Citizenship 1890 1930 (New Black Studies)

4 min read

583 View Claps

53 Respond

Save

Listen

Abstract

This article examines the role of lynching plays in the African American community from 1890 to 1930. Lynching plays were a form of popular theater that depicted the horrors of lynching and its impact on the black community. These plays were often performed by black actors and actresses, and they were a way for the black community to express their grief, anger, and determination to overcome the violence of lynching.

Lynching was a form of racial terrorism that was used to intimidate and control the African American community. Lynchings were often public events, and they were often accompanied by torture and mutilation. The victims of lynching were often men, but women and children were also targeted. The lynching of African Americans reached its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and it was a major factor in the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the North.

Living with Lynching: African American Lynching Plays, Performance, and Citizenship, 1890-1930 (New Black Studies)

by Koritha Mitchell

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1497 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	258 pages

Lynching plays were a response to the violence of lynching. These plays were a way for the black community to express their grief, anger, and determination to overcome the violence of lynching. Lynching plays were often performed by black actors and actresses, and they were a powerful way to raise awareness of the horrors of lynching and its impact on the black community.

The History of Lynching Plays

The first lynching play was performed in 1890. The play, The Old Plantation, was written by an African American playwright named W.E.B. Du Bois. The play depicted the lynching of a black man by a white mob. The play was a powerful indictment of lynching, and it helped to raise awareness of the issue.

In the years that followed, other African American playwrights wrote lynching plays. These plays included The Blood Knot (1905) by Augustus Thomas, The Emperor Jones (1920) by Eugene O'Neill, and The Lynching (1930) by Langston Hughes. These plays were all powerful indictments of lynching, and they helped to raise awareness of the issue.

The Performance of Lynching Plays

Lynching plays were often performed by black actors and actresses. These actors and actresses brought a deep understanding of the issue of lynching to their performances. They were able to convey the pain, anger, and determination of the black community in the face of this violence.

Lynching plays were often performed in churches, schools, and community centers. These venues were safe spaces for the black community to come together and express their grief and anger. The plays were also a way for the black community to educate themselves about the issue of lynching.

The Impact of Lynching Plays

Lynching plays had a profound impact on the African American community. These plays helped to raise awareness of the issue of lynching, and they helped to build a sense of community and solidarity. The plays also helped to inspire the black community to fight for their rights.

Lynching plays were an important part of the African American cultural landscape. These plays were a powerful way for the black community to express their grief, anger, and determination to overcome the violence of lynching.

Lynching plays were a powerful form of protest against the violence of lynching. These plays helped to raise awareness of the issue, and they helped to build a sense of community and solidarity. The plays also helped to inspire the black community to fight for their rights.