10:43 pm: Script
Allie Berta
Tessa Brown
Tyson Brown
Melissa Pace
Script
Narrator (Tyson): It is February 28, 1939 Easter Sunday. Marian Anderson has just finished performing on the steps of the Lincoln memorial. Only a month earlier Marian Anderson, a black opera singer, was denied to perform at the Constitution Hall of the Daughters of the Revolution (DAR). The Daughters of the Revolution was a non-profit, women's organization for the descendants of individuals who helped in gaining American independence In this time of racial division and segregation Eleanor Roosevelt, being active in civil rights and a member of the DAR, did not stand for this and organized the performance that is has just finished. Two women are walking in the park until they run into a mutual friend who is a DAR member and her husband. Conversation of the days happenings are immediately sparked.
Woman 1(Allie): That was a very powerful show. So many men, women and children, black and white, together for this one cause. It is very moving.
Woman 2: (Tessa) Yes, I know what you mean. What a large crowd, I had no idea the turn out would be this enormous!
Woman 1(Allie): I wonder how many people attended? There had to be at least 60,000.
Woman 2(Tessa): No, more than that, I over heard that the estimation for the turn out was 75,000.
Woman 2(Allie): Wow, it is so shocking to see that such a large amount of people came to support this young Negro. It was really daring of Eleanor Roosevelt to have the woman sing. What was her name again?
Woman 2(Tessa): Marian Anderson.
Woman 1(Allie): Ah, yes that’s right.
[The two women run into their mutual friend a DAR member June and her husband]
Woman 1(Allie): June! So you decided to come out today and see the festivities.
[The women hug and Charles kisses the ladies hands]
June (Melissa): Yes, Charles and I thought that since this fiasco was basically caused by my fellow DAR members we should come see Ms. Anderson sing. I for one can’t believe that the daughters of the revolution denied letting her sing in her home town for goodness sake!...But anyway, I can’t believe the amount of people that came!
Woman 2(Tessa): I know, especially on such a bitter cold day.
Charles (Tyson): This is all somewhat ridiculous I didn’t think Mrs. Roosevelt would take things this far. You know what a horrible reputation my June and the Daughters of the American Revolution are going to have now.
June (Melissa): Well, I guess something had to be done! Sure publicly resigning from the DAR was bold by Eleanor, but by speaking out about all of this she will surely be remembered. She is taking a huge stand against segregation and standing up for what she thinks is right .
[Everyone looks shocked at the outburst, while Junes looks surprised at herself and her actions]
Woman 1(Allie): [sensing awkwardness] Ah well either way, this was quite the large event. Today [all look back at Jefferson Memorial] history was made, whether you take it good or bad.
Charles (Tyson): OH geezzz… I need to sit down, my knee is going out, and it’s not what it used to be since the war.
[All sit down]
Woman 2(Tessa): What I think is remarkable is the difference of the Roosevelt administration to the Wilson administration. Mrs. Wilson would have never organized something like this.
June (Melissa): Yes, it defiantly is a change from President Wilson and his wife, who were indeed very racist. ..
Woman 1(Allie): I heard they even hosted the leader of the KKK for tea! Heh! Mrs. Roosevelt is defiantly different from Mrs. Wilson.
Charles: Well I sure know President Roosevelt has lost a good amount of Southern votes from this alone. He has tried to distance himself away from this as much as possible. What a handful she must be! I’m glad you’re not like that honey, ha, ha, ha.
June (Melissa): This is definitely not the first act Mrs. Eleanor has taken in the name of the coloreds. Theodore’s trying to keep his position neutral, by keeping his attention away from his wife’s actions; it sure is a shame that they have to act so divided.
Woman 1(Tessa): Tomorrow, I promise you everything that’s happened today will be all over the newspaper. I wonder what Eleanor will put in her My Day column about today. Just yesterday she announced her resignation from the DAR, isn’t that right June?
June (Melissa): Yes, she did and let me tell you, it did not go over well with my fellow members.
Woman 1(Allie): With everything she has done involving not only Marian, but all the blacks, really shows her passion for gaining equality for them.
Woman 2(Tessa): Just look at us talking about it, and the effect it has had on us alone. Imagine the direct effect this day will have on others. Eleanor is really striving to change our society. I think today was very successful in making her views known. Even if it was as simple of a gesture as letting Marian Anderson sing.
[All are silent for a second]
Charles (Tyson): I’m assuming now you and the DAR will be forced to open your minds and eyes a little more. You’ll will probably have Marian perform after all.
June (Melissa): Yes you’re probably right dear. I was never completely supportive of the DAR’s decision from the beginning. When Eleanor wouldn’t let the discrimination happen it truly showed me something; if she had not taken a stand on what went on this chain reaction that is happening would not have occurred.
Woman 1(Allie): I never saw it that way before, the DAR would have just denied Marian Anderson, and if Eleanor had not taken a stand for what she believed was right, that would have just been the end of it.
Charles (Tyson): I know, I wouldn’t have given it much of a thought past a week.
Woman 2(Tessa): This is going to enlighten society. Just look over there at the Jefferson memorial. He wrote that everyone was created equal, but he was a man who owned slaves himself. He sure shows how hypocritical America can be. Of that we say everyone is equal, but we make blacks second class citizens. By Eleanor taking a stand it is a great act, sticking by her morals and showing that she means what she says.
[The four people stand there in thought]
Woman 1(Allie): Well we should be getting on our way. I’m so glad we bumped into both of you.
June (Melissa): It was wonderful seeing you too!
Woman 2(Tessa): Farewell!
Charles (Tyson) Good day.
Narrator (Allie): Following this performance The Daughters of the American Revolution changed their policies on African Americans, and invited Marian Anderson to perform at their constitution Hall. Many say this performance set up by Eleanor Roosevelt was a push towards the civil rights movement. Eleanor continued her quest for racial equality until her death.
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exhausted
giddy
Oh no!
calm
blank
content
wtf?
cranky
contemplative
AHAHAHAH
okay
distressed