As difficult as it is for any play to go from page to stage, Black playwrights have had additional obstacles to overcome in that quest. Their work may not be seen as commercial enough to warrant the effort or the subject matter of their plays may be defined as too difficult to handle for a traditional theatergoing audience (TRANSLATION: white patrons). In a world where state legislatures draft bills to ban books and the teaching of American history accurately, warts and all, it’s hard to believe a Black writer who wishes to be represent the lives and thoughts of Black people has any chance at a career. So it stands to reason that during Women’s History Month we should marvel at the accomplishments of playwright Alice Childress. Continue reading Alice Childress at the University of Michigan