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Back The Darker Face of the Earth Save as PDF
Chapters (27)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Half-Title Page
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Dedication
  7. Cast
  8. Prologue
  9. Act One
  10. Scene 2
  11. Scene 3
  12. Scene 4
  13. Scene 5
  14. Scene 6
  15. Scene 7
  16. Scene 8
  17. Act Two
  18. Scene 2
  19. Scene 3
  20. Scene 4
  21. Scene 5
  22. Scene 6
  23. Scene 7
  24. Scene 8
  25. An Interview with Rita Dove
  26. Biographical Note
  27. Back Cover
HENRY I don’t want no part of this!
LEADER

You followed the sign;

you have been called!
HENRY

Any fool knows a mockingbird

when he hears one—and that

weren’t no mockingbird!
LEADER (Threatening.)

Are you prepared to slay

our oppressors, male and female,

when it is deemed time, according

to the plans of insurrection drawn up

and approved by members present?
HENRY

I’m against the white man

much as all of you—but murder?

“Thou shalt not kill,” saith the Commandments.
LEADER Who made your master?
HENRY God.
LEADER And who made you?
HENRY God.
LEADER

Then aren’t you as good as your master

if God made you both?
HENRY I’m not a vengeful man.
LEADER

But our Lord is a vengeful God.

“Whoever steals a man,” He says,

“whether he sells him or

is found in possession of him,

shall be put to death.”

Who is not with us

is against us.

You answered the call.

If you turn back now . . .

HENRY slowly lifts his head, squares his shoulders, and remains frozen in the spotlight while the LEADER speaks to AUGUSTUS.

LEADER He was brought to reason.
CONSPIRATORS Selah.
LEADER

So the one becomes many

and the many, one.

Hence our password:

“May Fate be with you—
CONSPIRATORS And with us all!”
AUGUSTUS Now I see who you are.
LEADER

Augustus Newcastle: are you prepared

to slay our oppressors,

male and female,

when it is deemed time, according

to the plans of insurrection

drawn up and approved by members present?
AUGUSTUS I am.
LEADER Enter your name in the Book of Redemption!

AUGUSTUS signs the book.

CONSPIRATORS Selah! Selah!
AUGUSTUS Tell me what to do.
LEADER

You’ll need a second-in-command.

Report your choice to us;

we will send out the sign.

Turning to the group.

My brothers, it is time to be free!

Maps are being prepared

of the city and its surroundings

along with the chief points of attack.

Bullets wait in kegs under the dock.

Destiny calls!
CONSPIRATORS Amen!
LEADER

There are barrels of gun powder

stacked in a cave outside Dawson’s Plantation.

Our Toby has been busy—

CONSPIRATORS nod and laugh in consent.

but he cannot risk further expeditions.

Henry Blake!

HENRY steps forward.

Your owner praised you in the marketplace

as the most trustworthy nigger

he ever had the fortune of owning.

Now it is up to you

to put your master’s trust to the test.

HENRY bows his head in assent, steps back into the group.