![]() ![]() This reduction parallels a much more serious problem: how black men are dehumanized by society and the law and seen as one-dimensional despite the truth. The idea that each of these men can be synonymous with a singular emotion feels uneasy, as the show has just illustrated how nuanced and complex each of them are. The characters represent key emotions, we learn towards the end of the show, and are played by Dyllón Burnside (Love), Bryan Terrell Clark (Happiness), Da’Vinchi (Lust), Luke James (Passion), Forrest McClendon (Depression), Esau Pritchett (Wisdom), and Tristan Mack Wilds (Anger). The key title word “thoughts” here demonstrates this, as the audience does not remain on the outside looking in – the struggles felt by each man reverberate through the theater after each monologue. We learn who they are to the world, and who they are to themselves, with emphasis on the latter. They relate with one another on subjects of love, sex, parenthood, and education, and clash with each other on the very same, while lamenting about gentrification symbols such as the Citibike station and Whole Foods. In a Brooklyn neighborhood on the cusp of rapid gentrification, six homegrown residents and one recent mover discuss class struggles, intersectionality, and prejudice through conversations and heavy internal monologue. Luke James’ mesmerizing voice fills the theater to open up the show, and after some dialogue the opening scene leaves the audience with this question: “who is the colored man?” Through 90 minutes of spoken word, slam poetry, rhythm, and humor, Thoughts of a Colored Man addresses this question by diving into the lives of each of these fictional New Yorkers. Each portrays different vastly different characters, apparent from their clothing and clarified further as we learn their personalities, backgrounds, and values. The play opens up with seven men lined up across the stage, decked out in various combinations of red and black. On a warm autumn evening, we ducked into Golden Theatre to catch the new Broadway play by Keenan Scott II, “Thoughts of a Colored Man.” This thought-provoking show offers a glimpse into the lives of several black men living in New York City – their joys, struggles, and particular experiences through various mediums of spoken word. ![]()
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