Even though addressing racism in the 1940s, this is a script for right now! Lawton paints a verbal mural of Black Artists’ struggle to bring their art and their ancestral culture into a predominantly racist society. Lines such as: "One day, if we’re lucky, our work will transcend race" made clear Black Artists still have not yet been given enough respectful encouragement to create their truth in their art. Lawton packs a bounty of determined power in the hearts of John Biggers and Samella Sanders Lewis, the artists she champions in this play of amazing perspective. Brava!

We were fortunate to do a reading of this at Weber State University a few years ago. This is a beautiful play that vividly brings to life important history about the fraught relationship between academic institutions, the well meaning missions they claim, the compromises they make that undermine those claims, and the many ways that institutions can and should learn from their students and faculty. I highly recommend all theatres, but perhaps especially academic institutions right now, read and produce this play.

I saw this production at Virginia Stage Company and absolutely loved it! Very moving and honest.