About Valetta: In some cultures Art is not separated from everyday life. Everyone makes an Art of the tasks they do. They are mothers, fathers, potters, weavers, griots-historians, drummers, flautists, singers, and storytellers who theatrically enliven the griot’s stories with elements from all of the rest.
I am in the latter group, questing to make our HerHisStories as exciting to both my great-granddaughter’s and my generations as I was excited by my 3rd grade history book’s pen and ink illustration of Alexander The Great running from his teacher, Aristotle, along the beach. That excitement was swiftly followed by Richard Burton starring as the adult warrior-king. I was 8 or 9 and the impact of those one-two, classroom-movie punches is as fresh, today as it was 67 years ago.
In 1991 my first professional production, “She’ll Find Her Way Home” was set in the Reconstruction South. Since then I have completed my top priority, raising 2 children. Priority #2 is the slow, steady, determined writing of historical plays and current event plays that have become historical. Funny how quickly that can happen, isn’t it?
But what I’ve spent the last year and a half writing 2 drafts of, is a history that virtually fell in my lap. Edward Coles, Illinois’ 2nd governor, convinced its citizens to vote against changing its constitution to become a slave state. And since he could not give the slaves he inherited in Virginia their freedom without the threat of their re-enslavement, he moved them west, set them free on his barges, flowing down the Ohio River, and gave each head of household parcels of Illinois land. Ever hear of such a story? I grew up in Chicago, birthed both my springoffs there and never heard of him.
In the Fabulous Sixties one of the most popular Civil Rights songs was “We Shall Overcome.” The song’s 2nd or 3rd stanza was “Black and White together. Black and White together. Black and White together, now…” But it was Black and White together in 1808. Who knew? And 1807 is where the play I’m developing begins, on the Enniscorthy Plantation, Albemarle County, Virginia. Edward Coles didn’t tell anyone of his life affirming plans until his father died and he’d inherited land and humans. Then he wrote to Thomas Jefferson petitioning him to use his influence to rid the nation of slavery, to no avail.
So now I am petitioning you to follow me into the universe, time, place, and history of the man that time seems to have wanted to forget. A universe also filled with people, who directly benefited from Edward Coles’ ethics and moral fiber. It is through these African-Americans’ eyes and ears, Lucy and Ralph Crawford, and their children, Polly and Robert, Edward’s play is told inherited and set free.
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Copyright 2023 by Valetta Anderson
Valetta Playwright 