Analysis Of Joe Turner's Come And Gone And Dutchman

Two plays, twenty years apart helped to depict two very important periods in African American history. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, premiered in 1984, and Dutchman premiered in 1964 help to show the development of the black mind set in certain periods of history. Dutchman, written during the black arts period (1960-1975); helped to show how African Americans constantly fought to escape the classic stereotypes that they were associated with. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, written for the Contemporary Period, told the story of how first generation black people after the signing of the emancipation proclamation, fought to find their identity, not only as black people but also religiously. Dutchman was written during the black arts period where a
In this particular play we are more focused on black identity in a sense as they are trying to find themselves whether it be as an African American, woman or man. More in a sense they don’t feel complete because of their past and current circumstances that they are in. And just like Dutchman, this play does deal with some racial discrimination. Herald Loomis is taken from his family to work on the fictitious “Joe Turner” chain gang. Joe Turner serves more as a representation than an actual character. He represents the racist Southern white men. He would illegally kidnap free and runaway slaves making them work in spots along the river where labor was
“You around here sprinkling salt all over the place….got pennies lined up across the threshold…all that heebie-jeebie stuff. And you going down there to the church and wanna come come home and sprinkle salt all over the place”, “Look at him. He done found that pigeon and now he’s talking to it”, “Now he got that cup. He done killed that pigeon and now he’s putting its blood in that little cup. I believe he drink that blood” (Wilson). Seth mocks Bynum, who is the only person throughout the whole play who is actually in touch with his identity. Seth is lost in the sense of religion, he calls all the things that Bynum and his wife, Bertha, do for spirituality heebie-jeebie stuff. Seth understands everything on a very basic level and doesn’t want to expand his understanding