African American
Drama
Scene from an old minstrel show, against which images Ward created
his play.
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Things to Consider:
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Stereotypes/Images of Whites and Blacks
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Irony
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Social Conditions for Blacks and Whites in 1960s
** Homework Questions **
108:
-
Why is the period between 1877 and 1900 referred to as "the nadir of
African American life and history" (108)?
Douglas Turner Ward (1930- )
Day of Absence (1965)
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What is a reverse minstrel show?
118:
-
What stereotypes about white people do John and Mary exemplify?
120:
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Why have the factories shut down?
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How is irony presented on this page?
123:
-
What does "infiltrating" mean? How do people know who's been doing
it?
126:
-
Why does Reb Pious quote Booker T. Washington?
128:
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Why does the mayor think a direct personal appeal from him will bring
the blacks back?
130:
-
Why do they come back?
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Will things change? Explain.
Other Discussion Questions:
107:
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Where and when was first African American Theater established?
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What was a coon show?
115:
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Who are John and Mary? Is there anything significant about their
names?
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Who's Lula?
118:
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How does John characterize himself as a business man?
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What is ironic about the mayor's comments about black people at the
bottom of the page?
120:
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Why must the mayor mobilize the Citizen's Emergency Distress Committee?
121:
-
Why do the whites want to burn down the blacks' houses? Why can't
they?
123:
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What are "nonessential workers" and "uncrucial personnel"? Where
do these titles come from? How are they ironic?
124:
125:
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Who is Mrs. Handy Anna Aide?
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Who is Reb Pious?
127:
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What is the mayor's "five-point, supra-recovery program" (127)?
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What attitudes toward blacks does it reveal?
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