Towne Street Theater, L.A.’s leading African-American theater company, has celebrated its 21st anniversary by mounting the world premiere of Barbara White Morgan’s powerful social drama, 1969. The choice of title is significant, as it was in the late 60s that the Black liberation movement in the USA began to come apart after a decade of successful rebellion against the white power structure, led by such figures as Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad, Eldridge Cleaver and Huey Newton.
In Morgan’s play, Ajamu (Jaimyon Parker), is just such a leader, head of the Blacks United movement in an unnamed American city. But he and his equally militant sidekick, Lewis (Lamar Usher), have been under attack by various establishment forces—police, FBI, local politicians—who are determined to crush BU’s rebellion against the system. (Shades of the Black Panther story.)
Also in opposition to Ajamu is a successful Black-American businessman, Ernest Butler (Kenny Cooper), who wants to buy BU’s headquarters and turn it into a community center. Ajamu sees Ernest as a kind of Uncle Tom, currying favor with Whitey by helping to deprive BU of its home base. There is a further complication: Grace Butler (Meagan Weaver), Ernest’s wife, is a former girlfriend of Ajamu’s.
The clash of personal and historical forces, and, above all, values, is what 1969 is all about. Morgan builds her drama slowly but skillfully, going deeper and deeper into character at every step of the way, so that by the time the play’s explosive climax is reached, we know Grace and Ajamu very well and care deeply about their fate.
Morgan’s play takes place on Nathaniel Bellamy’s sumptuous set, and it is acted by a skilled ensemble. Kudos to them and to director Kim Harrington.
