America’s history has been one of dismal and oppression when speaking of race relations. At times, the race relations in this nation have lead to deaths: both internally within a person and externally in society as a whole. Nevertheless, the world we know is just a pseudo waiting to be unveiled by the people living in it. Everything about this play serves as a display of white/ black conflict prior to the Civil Rights movement. Unfortunately, many of the plays themes and overarching ideas can still be expressed in recent society. The complex relationship between, Lula, the main white character and the main black character, Clay, shows a deadly problem in society that is rooted deeper in a person than what is on the surface. The deepest tensions are the most problematic and can be the most deadly. LeRoi Jones’s, Dutchman, exemplifies in a drastic way the ideas, language and anger of the people of America prior to the Civil rights era. Furthermore, the play details the type of fury, power, and rage that can be internally placed that can oppress a person. …show more content…
As I read through the first lines of the play, I was put in a particular mood. LeRoi Jones stated on the first page of the play in italics,” In the flying underbelly of the city. Steaming hot, and summer on top, outside. Underground. The subway heaped in modern myth (Dutchman, character list).” The words hit my core so deeply. The description was a sign of peril and danger ahead. Furthermore, the summer heat embodied the struggle and oppression of the people as the humid cars of the train slowly glide under the “affluent” Neighborhoods of New York. However, the train is filled with mystery, strangers, and a story begging to be