Painting a Fuller Portrait
By Janine Sobeck, Literary Manager
"I have always been interested in exploring issues surrounding black men. When I read the Urban League's 2007 Report, it became clear to me that it was time to focus on writing this play." – Daniel Beaty, playwright
Since 1976 the National Urban League has published an annual report on The State of Black America. While exploring a wide spectrum of issues, the Report concentrates specifically on the most pressing concerns facing Black America during that year, with the goal of acting as a "barometer of the conditions, experiences, and opinions of Black America." The 2007 report, "The Portrait of a Black Male," argued that "because of its devastating and far-reaching ramifications, th[e] underperformance of the black male is the most serious economic and civil rights challenge we face today."
Intent in his artistic goal of turning pain into power, Daniel Beaty pushes the issues raised in the Report to a new level. In the following conversation with Marc H Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League >, and Janine Sobeck, Arena’s Literary Manager, Daniel further explores the intersection between the Report and his own writing:
JS: The 2007 National Urban League report on The State of Black America was specifically looking at "The Portrait of a Black Male". Why is it important to single out this specific group?
DB: The story of black men in America is one that is historically and presently too often one of challenge and difficulty from the experience of slavery to the current statistics about black men. While there are always examples of great success and triumph, it crucial to remember those who are disenfranchised and without hope.
MHM: There are at least two stories to be told about the State of Black America in 2007-08. One story celebrates the successes of a black general manager leading the Giants to a Super Bowl victory; a black golfer winning his 13th major tournament; a black woman winning her 5th Wimbledon grand slam; black chief executives at major financial and media institutions, and it’s about black box office champs and a record number of black females graduating and attending college. Other successes herald a black man as the head of the powerful and influential Ways and Means Committee and of course, we have Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. But there is another story that also must be told about the State of Black America in 2007-08. More than a third of all black children live in poverty and almost 2/3 grow up in homes without both parents. In some cities more than 50% of black boys do not finish high school while 50% of black males in their 20’s are jobless in many cities around our nation. And perhaps there is a third story of men, countless men of all ages, out of the spotlight, who work hard for success, who support their families and who are improving their communities each and every day. The State of Black America issue aimed to explore all sides, all possibilities and all challenges and we wanted to raise real concerns about Black male progress and participation in our larger society.
JS: What do you feel is the stereotypical "portrait" of a black male? What
are the influential factors behind the stereotype?
MHM: Interestingly enough, we have a number of stereotypes and I am sure you and I know them all. However, I am more interested in what the conditions, concerns and reality are that shape and influence the lives of the myriad of men and boys the Urban League serves annually. All too often we allow caricatures and the 10% of what we think we know, to shape the services for the 90% we often never see. Each and every day men are doing the right thing and looking for the right opportunities and the right ways to contribute and participate, but we either don’t know them or just won’t show them and that to me is the real tragedy. We can’t allow the few to define the life prospects and opportunities of the many.
DB: I am not interested in exploring the stereotypes. I am interested in examining the possibilities. All people regardless of race, gender, or any other label of identity are multi-layered and complex. I endeavor to create characters who are "full" human beings with heart, dreams, and contradictions to underscore my belief that we are all connected.
JS: Resurrection wrestles with a myriad of issues, including education, poverty, religion, relationships, sexuality, and addiction. What are the unique challenges within these discussions faced by the black male?
DB: Resurrection is the discussion of these challenges - that was my core intent in writing the play. Resurrection is my effort to look these issues directly in the face with thoughtfulness, heart, and humor. I include humor because I believe laughter enables us to see what might otherwise be unbearable.
MHM: Black men don’t have any unique challenges. There are of course some unique situations and those are the things we are less likely to talk about; racism, social and eco concerns, access and opportunities and the list goes on. The issues raised and discussed in Resurrection are fairly universal. Again, the greater tragedy is to fail to see beyond social economics and current conditions. We must find and celebrate the individual and unique potential they can bring to our communities and families. Everyone ought to be given the same opportunities and provided equal access to education, employment opportunities, quality health care and other resources. It is often said: It is not a shame to have dreams unfulfilled, but it is a shame to have no dreams.
JS: Both of you are considered very successful in your fields. What have been some of the leading influences in your lives?
DB: One of the greatest influences in my life is the work of Dr. King. As a boy, I saw a recording of his "I Have a Dream" speech. I was blown away by his ability to use words to inspire. My mother's commitment to raise me without a father present has also been a major influence. In Resurrection, though the play is all men, they pay homage to the women in their lives.
MHM: With out a doubt I would have to say my parents and my brother and my sisters. My mother was a college administrator and my father was the first black mayor of a southern city who went on to serve as a two-term Mayor of the City of New Orleans. A thirst for knowledge and education, working hard and doing your best was and is a family tradition and trait. I also was influenced by great leaders from the past, Vince Lombardi, Dr. King, Fredrick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, among so many others.
JS: Daniel, where did you draw inspiration for your characters?
DB: Imagination was my primary inspiration for the characters. Observation is the artist's greatest tool. I am constantly observing the world around me. When I sit down to write, I don't recreate specific people, but I have a pool of experiences and observations that feed my imagination.
JS: How will plays like Resurrection add to or change the black male image?
DB: My hope is that black men will feel their stories are being told in a manner that honors and challenges them, and that others will have more compassion and understanding of the complexities of issues facing the black male in America.
MHM: I believe that whenever you offer a more diverse and complete picture of something you offer a more realistic and balanced perspective and also a fairer perspective. Our mission and goals at the Urban League aren’t to tell people what to think but merely to aid them in their acquisition of tools, knowledge, skills and attributes to ensure they are in fact thinking, processing and analyzing situations, circumstances and events so that they make the best decisions and choices for themselves and their families and their community. We ultimately want to empower communities and change lives for the better, and we are grateful that young talented brothers like Daniel Beaty can use our resources to tell stories and to perhaps improve conditions, because when you know better you can do better.
