Plays in Black: Phat Plays 4 Inner-City Kidz

By DR. Terence Cerene Candell Ph.D

High Schoolers, making those comments about a play?? Unbelievable, but true. Inside these plays,youll find high schoolers, rappin their way to college, high school betrayal among friends, trips back intoancient Africa from Queen Hatshepsut to King Tut to Queen Nzinga into an alternate universe in the United States where historically great Blacks are the ruling class into the streets of the inner-city withgangs and police brutality and into the corruption of Hurricane Katrina!

Dr. Candell has taken our youth from an historical perspective, into the streets, into a time machine,into A Brighter Day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456897918

DR. Terence Cerene Candell Ph.D

He has taught youth since 1978. In fact, prior to 1978, his fourth grade teacher in 1972, Mrs. Wyndham, gave him a group of students to teach reading. He worked his way through college, working fulltime and proofreading peer papers. Dr. Candell was born and raised in Oakland. In 2002, he received the Educator of the Year Award for the 5th time in his career. Ten months ago, his school was featured in the Oakland Tribune, due to the quality of work his students produce. Newspaper and Television throughout the world acknowledged his school for sending the first-ever 10-year old to school fulltime at Cal State University East Bay. In 2006, he was awarded the PHAT Friends Award by the All-Stars Network for his work with Inner-city youth. On November 5th, 2007, Dr. Candell was recognized by Bank of America and awarded the Neighborhood Excellence Hero Award. Prior to that, he was the Senior Admissions Advisor at Heald College. Immediately before Heald, he was a Director at Menlo College

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by Dr. Terence Cerene Candell, Ph.D.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2011905106

ISBN: Hardcover    978-1-4568-9790-1

ISBN: Softcover       978-1-4568-9789-5

ISBN: Ebook            978-1-4568-9791-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

96875

Contents

I.    A BRIGHTER DAY

II.    ATTACK OF THE FRIENDS

III.    I’M SORRY

IV.    KATRINA!

V.    THE LIFE OF MALCOLM X

VI.    THE AFRIKANS

VII.    THE AFRIKANS II: TIME IS ON OUR SIDE

VIII.    UH OH! NO SLAVERY!

IX.    FLOETRY

X.    COME BACK TO ME

XI.    GOSSIP

XII.    IN MY WORLD

XIII.    TONY

Abstract

From educator-author Dr. Terence Cerene Candell, Ph.D., comes an anthology of short plays that will surely help both teachers and students. In this newly published book, Plays In Black, the author weaves plays that young readers can relate to, as inspired by the many creative and intelligent human beings he has had the pleasure of teaching over the years.

He urges teachers to open their doors to all kids. Let the young ones play a role. Students will jump at the chance to play a role in every one of these plays. Do what you must to get them a part! the author says. For in this book, students can learn the lessons of life from the plays – the life they live. Teachers may have the answers, but children don’t want to hear them from them. So, teachers must let the students be a part of the play, by giving them a role: Assistant Director, Light Crew, Stage Crew, Musician, Choir, or whatever it takes. For children learn more, if they are involved. Being part of these plays is surely an experience they will keep with them for life. Relevant theater can turn their lives around.

So, open your doors. These plays erase their excuses. They also erase yours.

Acknowledgments

To the very creative and intelligent human beings I have had the distinct pleasure of teaching over the years, who gave me the inspiration to write these plays and put them in a context to which they could relate. This book is for you.

As usual, I would like to thank God, my wife, Dyra, my daughter, Lil’ Dyra and my son, T.C. for giving me the time to do all of this and for havin’ my back.

 "

A BRIGHTER DAY"

ANOTHER PHAT PLAY FOR KIDZ

BY DR. TERENCE CERENE CANDELL, PH.D.

10/5/2003

CHARACTERS

D. J.

BEST FRIEND

NARRATOR

GANGBANGER

GIRLFRIEND

MOM

HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR

PROCTER

BANK TELLER

TEACHER

THIEF

SCENE 1

NARRATOR:             A COUPLE OF PEOPLE COME UP TO D. J., JACK HIM, AND SAY:

GANGBANGER:      YOU GON’ BE A BLOOD, STARTIN’ TODAY!

D. J.:                                WHAT IF I DON’T WANNA BE A BLOOD?

NARRATOR:             ANOTHER GANGBANGER GRABS HIM BY THE COLLAR AND SAYS:

GANGBANGER 2:    EITHER YOU GON’ BE A BLOOD OR YOU GON’SHED BLOOD!

NARRATOR:             A TEACHER WALKS BY, SEES THEM IN THE HALL AND SAYS:

TEACHER:                WHAT ARE YOU KIDS DOING? LEAVE HIM ALONE! GET BACK TO CLASS! NOW!

GANGBANGER:      SEE YOU LATER . . . BLOOD. [THREATENING D. J.]

[THE TEACHER STOPS D. J. AND SAYS:]

TEACHER:                WHAT WERE YOU DOING WITH THOSE GUYS?

D. J.:                                I WAS GOING TO SEE MY COUNSELOR.

TEACHER:                WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU’RE HAVING ANY PROBLEMS, YOU CAN ALWAYS TALK TO ME.

D. J.:                                WHAT CAN YOU DO?

TEACHER:                [THE TEACHER RAISES HIS FINGER TO BEGIN TO SAY WHAT HE CAN DO. REALIZING HE CAN DO NOTHING, HE SAYS:] AHH! [WAVES HIM OFF AND WALKS AWAY]

D. J.:                                YEAH, THAT’S WHAT I THOUGHT.

END SCENE 1

SCENE 2

[D. J. WALKS INTO SCHOOL WITH HIS FRIEND]

BEST FRIEND:         ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE IT ALL PLANNED OUT. THERE’S ABOUT TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND IN THAT BANK.

D. J.:                                MAN, I DON’T KNOW.

BEST FRIEND:         I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU HALF OF IT [HE PULLS BACK HIS COAT AND DISPLAYS HIS .45 PISTOL.] I’LL DO ALL THE WORK. ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS DRIVE.

D. J.:                                JUST LET ME THINK ABOUT IT.

FRIEND:                  MAN, AIN’T NOTHIN’ TO THINK ABOUT. WE NEED TO JUST GO ON AND GET THIS MONEY. BUT, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT. YOU GOT UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING; AND THEN, I’M GONNA HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY ELSE.

[LIGHTS OUT.]

END SCENE 2

SCENE 3

[D. J.’S GIRLFRIEND LEADS HIM IN BY THE HAND]

GIRLFRIEND:             YOU WANNA BE WITH ME AND ONLY ME?

D. J.:                                [DRIVEN BY DESIRE] OH YEAH!

GIRLFRIEND:            YOU LOVE ME?

D. J.:                                BABY, YOU KNOW I DO.

GIRLFRIEND:              DON’T YOU THINK IT’S TIME?

[CHOIR SINGS WE FALL DOWN BY Donnie McClurkin.] [ACTORS FREEZE, THEN COME TO LIFE AT SONG’S END.]

D. J.:                                LET ME THINK ABOUT IT.

[D. J. EXITS.]

GIRLFRIEND:               WHAT!?!

END SCENE 3

SCENE 4

[D. J. IS WALKING ACROSS THE STAGE. A SPEEDING CAR ENTERS AND HITS HIM. SEVERAL PRAMEDICS RUSH TO THE SCENE AND CARRY HIM OUT ON A GURNEY.]

SCENE 5

NARRATOR:             D. J. IS LYING IN THE BED, WHEN HIS MOM ENTERS.

D. J.:                                I’VE GOT TO GET WELL. I’VE GOT TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.

MOM:                              THAT’S OKAY. I TALKED TO GEORGE OVER AT THE STATE BUILDING, AND HE SAYS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TAKE THE TEST; AND, HE CAN GET YOU ON WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

D. J.:                                WHAT ABOUT MY B. A.? WHAT ABOUT SCHOOL?

MOM:                              YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORK THAT HARD. WE HAVE A GOOD JOB FOR YOU; ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TAKE IT. WILL YOU TAKE THE TEST?

D. J.:                                ALL RIGHT, MOMMA. I’LL TAKE THE TEST.

[MOM SMILES, ELATED.] [D. J.’S BEST FRIEND ENTERS THE ROOM]

MOM:                              I’LL LEAVE YOU TWO ALONE.

[MOM EXITS THE ROOM.]

BEST FRIEND:         AW MAN! YOU GOT MESSED UP BLOOD. YOU GOT MESSED UP! LOOK MAN, AS SOON AS YOU UP FROM HERE, WE GOTTA GO DO THIS JOB.

D. J.:                                MAN, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I’M LAYING UP HERE IN THE BED, AND YOU ARE ASKING ME TO ROB A BANK!?!

BEST FRIEND:         CHILL, MAN.

D. J.:                                AND, YOU CALL YOURSELF MY FRIEND? YOU BETTA RAISE UP.

BEST FRIEND:         AW, MAN! YOU TRIPPIN.

D. J.:                                I SAID RAISE UP! NURSE! NURSE! NURSE!

END SCENE 5

SCENE 6

NARRATOR:             AT THE STATE BUILDING, D. J. AND HIS MOM ARE SITTING AT THE TABLE, TAKING A TEST. A PROCTER COMES OVER, AND THEY HAND HIM THE TEST. HE, THEN, CHECKS THEM QUICKLY.

PROCTOR:                  CONGRATULATIONS, D. J.! YOU’VE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED IN THE 99 PERCENTILE.

MOM:                              YOU SEE, SON. NOW, YOU’RE GOING TO GET A JOB WITH THE STATE. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE.

[D. J. LOOKED PUZZLED.]

END SCENE 6

SCENE 7

NARRATOR:             D. J. GOES TO SEE THE COLLEGE COUNSELOR TO DISCUSS HIS COLLEGE PLANS.

COUNSELOR:            YOU WANT TO GO WHERE?

D. J.:                                  I REALLY WANT TO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY.

COUNSELOR:            LET’S JUST BE REALISTIC HERE. WHY DON’T YOU JUST TRY TO GET A JOB AT THE POST OFFICE; OR, IF YOU WANT, BURGER KING IS HIRING.

D. J.:                                I HEAR YOU, BUT . . .

[THE COUNSELOR INTERRUPTS]

COUNSELOR:            I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE. I CAN TALK TO MY CONNECTION AT LANEY COLLEGE. HE CAN PROBABLY GET YOU IN.

D. J.:                                [DROPS HIS SHOULDERS AND EXHALES] YOU KNOW THEY TOLD ME YOU WAS DISSIN’ ALL THE BROTHAS WHO COME TO SEE YOU. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, MR. COUNSELOR, I WAS ACCEPTED INTO U.C. BERKELEY TWO DAYS AGO. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I’VE BEEN ACCEPTED TO 3 OF THE TOP UNIVERSITIES IN THE NATION. I JUST CAME HERE TO DISCUSS MY CLASS SCHEDULE. DO ME A FAVOR?

COUNSELOR:           EH, WHAT’S THAT, D. J.?

D. J.:                                RESIGN. BLACK PEOPLE GO TO COLLEGE EVERY DAY.

[LIGHTS OUT.]

END SCENE 7

SCENE 8

[CHOIR SITS AT REAR OF STAGE.]

NARRATOR:             D. J. IS NOW AT THE BANK, AND HE IS TALKING TO THE TELLER.

TELLER:                  I’M SORRY D. J., BUT YOUR ACCOUNT IS OVERDRAWN.

D. J.:                                I JUST PUT $20 IN THERE YESTERDAY.

TELLER:                  YES, BUT WE HAVE BANK FEES. SO, YOU ACTUALLY OWE US $6.

NARRATOR:             D. J. EXITS THE BANK, AND HIS FRIEND IS WAITING BEHIND A TREE TO TALK TO HIM.

BEST FRIEND:         SEE MAN!

D. J.:                                SEE WHAT?

BEST FRIEND:         I SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN THERE. I TOLD YOU: WE NEED TO JUST TAKE THIS MONEY. C’MON MAN; LET’S GET THIS MONEY. HERE’S THE CAR RIGHT HERE.

[D. J. SITS IN THE CAR. HE PUTS BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL.]

BEST FRIEND:         YEAH! YEAH! LET GET THIS MONEY! [PULLS HIS GUN]

[D. J. SLOWLY RISES FROM THE CAR.]

[CHOIR SINGS: WE FALL DOWN, BUT WE GET UP.]

D. J.: