In the interest of pursuing diversity on the Texas A&M campus, the College of Liberal Arts is co-sponsoring Richard Wright’s “Black Boy” at Rudder Theatre tonight at 7:30. Admission is free.
“Black Boy” is being produced by The American Place of Theaters and Literature to Life Arts Education Program.
“Black Boy,” published in 1945, is an autobiographical book that depicts the hardships and discriminations Wright was forced to deal with as a black boy growing up in the South.
Charles Holt will be the sole performer in the play, and different voices and body movements will be used with a minimum number of props. Holt will portray the life of Wright from age four to 28.
“A faculty member saw Holt in performance before and was impressed,” said Larry Oliver, assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
Holt said he never felt like he belonged anywhere, but after reading “Black Boy,” he identified with the characters.
“I was instantly moved by Wright’s words,” Holt said.
Wright loved to read and write, but never had many opportunities because school was a rare luxury, and he spent most of his time taking care of himself, according to the book.
He said he wanted to give back to readers in the form of his own words.
“(Those growing up in the South) are hungry to find out what is was like in another era and are captivated by Wright’s words,” Holt said.
“Black Boy” will cover not only the aspects of physical hunger caused by lack of material needs, but also the emotional and educational hunger caused by the lack of options available to Wright during that time period, Holt said.
Oliver said he hopes the play brings diversity to A&M’s students and the city of College Station, and for that reason, local high schools have also been invited.
Holt has performed on Broadway in “The Lion King” and “Smokey Joe’s Cafe.”