Martin Said So

Martin Said So was born out of a request by the Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor's Commission for Dr. Martin Luther King Week. Although ideally suitable for presentation around Dr. King's birthday in January and Black History Month in February, it is enjoyable and appropriate for any time of year. The play tells the story of four generations of an American family of African descent as they were affected by the Civil Rights movements of the 1950s and 1960s. When Evelyn Shaw, an African-American student at an Ivy League college, refuses to serve on a committee to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, her great-grandmother can't understand why. With flashbacks, the great-grandmother describes the struggles of her family. Evelyn's father was an admirer of Malcolm X and joined the Black Muslims; her uncle went to Alabama to march with Dr. King. The brothers clashed frequently over the philosophies of the two black leaders. The authors blend an unbelievable amount of factual information into the fast-moving plot. With strong emotion and dramatic conflict, the play shows how the philosophies of both Dr. King and Malcolm X changed the family's life. In the end, Evelyn is proud of her heritage, and the audience is given a sensitive, factual review with strong emotion and dramatic conflict of the impact of Dr. King's work on today's society. The historical facts are presented frankly and fairly, and this important play will be applauded by all ethnicities. It was premiered by Theatre for Emily in Providence, Rhode Island.