The Nacirema Society

The Cultural Weekly won tickets via Free Night Houston to see "The Nacirema Society" a play written by Author and Playwright, Pearl Cleage. The stage play is set in December of 1964 in Montgomery, Alabama. At the height of the Civil Right Movement a bus boycott transpired; many African American maids used bus transportation to and from work. After learning more about the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., they decided to join in and protest by not riding. Grace Dubose Dunbar’s family employed several maids in the community during the bus boycotts. 

The Dunbar’s were an astute middle-class African American family that had money, the best cars, wore the latest fashions, and attended affluent schools. The female matriarch of the family wasn't going to allow her legacy go to waste and assured her granddaughter, Grace Dunbar that she would attend Fisk University just as other women in their family had in the past. Grace’s real passion was writing. Mrs. Dubose also wanted her granddaughter to court and marry her best friend’s grandson. 

Catherine Adams Green was a member of The Nacirema Society and had been friend’s with the Dubose family for years. The annual Debutante Cotillion was being planned by both women and the two grandchildren would both be presented to society at the ceremony. Mrs. Green had previously spoken with a reporter about the event at the New York Times and purposely told the writer that Grace and Bobby were engaged though the information was untrue.

Needless to say the two teenagers were not romantically involved; they considered each other family. Dubose reiterated several times that she did not want to get married she wanted to move to New York City and become an accomplished writer. Bobby Green had conflicted emotions regarding  his grandmother's wishes and following his heart. The young man was in love with a young African American woman who lived in Mississippi; her name was Lily Jackson. "The Nacirema Society" displayed a lot of stereotypes that upper class African Americans portrayed regarding their own people and family. 

Grace Dubose Dunbar bestowed no mercy upon those that had less than her family. There was a clear distinction of class systems that she knew to be true and used her status as an advantage to belittle anyone –including her family. Though Mrs. Dubose was classy and educated, she was rude, condescending, and judgmental. Catherine Adamas Green acted in the same manner. The two learned a few hard lessons as a result of their own shortcomings.

Alpha Campbell Jackson heard rumors that Dr. Dunbar was her biological father and she decided to extort money from Mrs. Dubose to pay for her daughter’s remaining college fees. Dr. Dubose wrote a letter to Lily asking for forgiveness for his actions and that he wanted to take care of his child and made sure that she was set up to receive financial assistance through his lawyer.  To top it off, Alpha’s  daughter, was in love with Bobby Green. Mrs. Dubose and Alpha Campbell Jackson met up one day and the estranged woman told the widowed wife about her findings regarding her father. Grace Dubose Dunbar always knew about Alpha but kept the family secret hidden. She offered financial compensation to Alpha so that she would go away.

The climax of the story commences at a dinner, attended by a New York Times female reporter. She observed and took notes about the Dubose family for a story about The Nacirema Society. Bobby Greene decided to tell his grandmother that he was marrying his first love. The scheme that Alpha conjured was found out and everyone was stunned by the news.  Additionally, Grace Dunbar told her grandmother about being accepted to college in New York City. Eventually, Grace Dubose Dunbar had to reveal what she knew all along and professed that she and her husband were never in love with each other.

Though there were serious issues within the play it was written as satire by the writer. The characters were very funny and believable. Without the comedic efforts of Pearl Cleage this play could have been  a flop –due to African Americans being disengaged with their history in the 21^st century.  The writer’s message  masterfully ignited the emotions of the audience. They were thoroughly entertained and engaged. The set allowed the audience to travel back in time to the Civil Rights Movement and witness the other side of the fence --the lives of upper-class African Americans. 

Check out The Nacirema Society; the play will run through October 21, 2012 at The Ensemble Theatre at 3535 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002. Log on to their website.

Play Review By, atlas brown

Writer @ Large
The Cultural Weekly