Ossie Davis Play Re-Discovered!

Just saw a fantastic reading of a little known work written by the late, great Ossie Davis called "The People of Clarendon County" at the Schomburg Center. If you are in the NYC area, the reading is brief (about 40 minutes), but the all-star cast and subject matter make it worth seeing.

Written in the 1950s, the piece explores the true story of how a group of Black citizens in a South Carolina town were actually the first ones (before Brown vs. Board of Ed) to go after the government about the constitutionality of "separate and unequal" practices in public schools. Originally intended to be performed by young people to educate them about their history, it was first performed by a young Ossie, Ruby, and Sidney Poitier.

Tonight it was brilliantly performed by Lynn Whitfield, Glynn Turman (remember him as the colonel in "A Different World"?), and Rueben Santiago Hudson (who wrote and starred in "Lakawana Blues"). The evening was hosted by former NYC mayor David N. Dinkins and Ruby Dee herself, who I can tell you STILL LOOKS GOOD up close, in person (she had a bangin' outfit and a modern, sassy haircut; ya'll know Black don't crack!). Later on, Mr. Turman pointed out the fact that he had his first major acting role over 40 years ago with Ms. Dee in the original Broadway stage play of "Raisin in the Sun."

Hurry and check it out this Saturday, February 9 when John Amos (of "Roots", and the dad from "Good Times"), Roscoe Orman, and Barbara Ann Teer perform. Or Sunday February 10 with Danny Glover, Mary Alice Smith (the oracle from "The Matrix"), and Glynn Turman work it out.

Here's another overview of the play, and a link to dates and ticket info.
If you make it, let me know what you think!