Atlanta Daily World

Hampton Students Hear "De Lawd" Tell Why Negro Dramatists Must Use Negroid Themes for Public HAMPTON INSTITUTE. Hampton, Va.--The drama is a broad field of art expression for the Negro only if his playwrights use Negroid themes exclusively. This view is expressed by Richard B. Harrison. famous star of "The Green Pastures." in an exclusive interview given to the editor of THE SOUTHERN WORKMAN. at the institute recently, and printed in the November number of that journal.

Asked whether the drama is to be one of the great fields of art expression for the Negro, Mr. Harrison replied: "No, not unless the race produces writers of plays in sufficient numbers, and that we are not doing at present." He was asked: "You mean. then, that your answer is in the affirmative. if we have a sufficient. number of playwrights?"

"I do, emphatically, but a condition attaches to that." was Mr. Harrison's reply. "The themes of the Negro playwright must be Negroid, definitely and emphatically."

The interviewer said: "Let me get this clear, Mr. Harrison. Do you mean that the Negro playwright stands little chance of success if he enters the broad field of dramatic writing, taking his themes from any subject just as other playwrights do?"

To this he replied: "That is precisely what I mean. So far as my information goes, no Negro playwright has succeeded in having any of his offerings accepted and produced with success if they dealt with theme of different type. As I see it. the themes must be Negroid if they are to have universal acceptance."

No Unfriendliness To White Playwrights

Mr. Harrison made it clear that he is not at all unfriendly to white playwrights. "Because I say that the Negro playwright must deal with themes which are Negroid. and that he can write in this vein better than white playwrights. do not understand me to mean any unkindliness to white playwrights. They write about the Negro: but I think the Negro can do the job better. He knows the thoughts and the language, and understands the ideals and aspirations of the Negro. He is a Negro himself, and has lived through the experience of one. The success of "The Green Pastures." written on a Negroid theme, although by a white man. proves the value of this type of treatment. The interpretation of the play by an all-Negro cast shows how well such plays as these can be presented on the stage by people who have lived through all of that which is being portrayed. White writers have simply taken valuable material which is ready at their hands and have used it to splendid advantage. I am glad for what they have done. But it is the Negro who best understands himself and can best portray his own moods and sentiments."

Why Negro Playwrights Shun NegroidThemes.

To the question why Negro writers of plays have not sensed the possibilities in this field, Mr. Harrison said: "The Negroes who are capable of writing such plays refuse to do so because they feel that writing in the vein which I am pointing out will be a reflection upon their education and culture That is the whole story. Thus it happens that the wealth of material centering around the Negro is left to our white friends and others not so friendly to exploit and use. and not always as we would like to have it employed."