A Researched Historical Work Designed To Be Performed For An

A Researched Historical Work Designed To Be Performed For An Audience

A researched historical work designed to be performed for an audience of at least 8 pages (not including sources page) on some aspect of African American history to be posted as an attachment in DISCUSSIONS. The paper must be written in play form with stage directions in parentheses and characters speaking dialogue. Include information about cast of characters and setting at the beginning and designate the finish at the end. Characters may narrate as well as speak and interact with each other. Keep in mind that the work is designed to be performed. Get to the heart of the story and dramatize it as best you can. You must use at least 3 different sources listed at the end of the paper in MLA format. Attention: Paper must be at least 8 pages long. Dialogue is single spaced with spaces in between speakers and stage directions. Source page at the end is not included in the 8 pages submitted. Source page with at least 3 sources in MLA format.

Paper For Above instruction

A Researched Historical Work Designed To Be Performed For An Audience

Perform a dramatized piece on an aspect of African American history

This assignment requires creating a researched historical work in the form of a play that is to be performed for an audience. The script should focus on a significant event, figure, or aspect of African American history, bringing the story to life through dialogue, character interactions, and stage directions. The play must be at least eight pages long, excluding the sources page, and should be posted as an attachment in the discussion forum.

To ensure an effective and engaging performance, the script must include detailed stage directions in parentheses, character dialogue, and scene settings. The cast of characters should be introduced at the beginning, along with the setting of the scene(s), establishing context for the audience. The characters can narrate parts of the story and also interact dynamically through dialogue that captures the emotional and historical nuances of the subject.

Research is a vital component; at least three credible sources must be cited in MLA format, and these sources should be referenced on a separate works cited page, which is not included in the page count. The script should be single-spaced for dialogue with clear spacing between dialogue exchanges and stage directions to facilitate performance considerations.

The finished work should vividly dramatize the chosen aspect of African American history, effectively blending factual research with creative storytelling to educate and engage audiences in understanding this critical part of history.

Paper For Above instruction

Title: The Underground Railroad: A Journey to Freedom

Setting: The clandestine routes of the Underground Railroad, various safe houses across the North, and moments in the life of Harriet Tubman.

Cast of Characters: Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, An enslaved person (Jamal), a conductor on the Railroad, a slave owner (Mr. Collins), and a free African American community member (Mrs. Johnson).

(The play begins with a dimly lit stage representing a safe house. Shadows of trees and distant lanterns can be seen. Stage directions are in parentheses.)

Scene 1: The Beginning of a Journey

Harriet Tubman: (Standing stage right, speaking to Jamal) "Tonight, my friend, we leave the chains behind. Freedom awaits, but it’s a dangerous path."

Jamal: (Nervous, holding a basket) "I’m scared, Harriet. What if we’re caught?"

Harriet Tubman: "Fear is the enemy of freedom. Trust in what you know is right and trust in me. The Underground Railroad is more than just secret paths—it’s hope."

(They quietly tiptoe across the stage toward the exit.)

Scene 2: The Conductor and the Safe House

Conductor: (Lurking in the shadows, whispering) "Quick, hide in the closet. The slave owner is on his way."

Mrs. Johnson: (From stage left, speaking softly) "My home is your refuge, Harriet. We all desire freedom and will risk everything for it."

Harriet Tubman: "Your kindness keeps the hope alive. We must keep moving—each mile closer to liberty."

(The group silently listens as footsteps approach, then exit quickly.)

Scene 3: The Threat and Courage

Mr. Collins: (Entering forcefully, glaring) "Who’s been aiding these runaway slaves? I will find them."

Harriet Tubman: (Stepping forward boldly) "Harriet is here to guide her people to the promise of freedom. No chains can hold us forever."

Jamal: (Tensely holding Harriet’s hand) "We’re ready to face whatever comes, because living in slavery is no life at all."

(A tense pause as everyone faces the danger.)

Scene 4: Escape to Freedom

Frederick Douglass: (Appearing on a projected backdrop or via voiceover) "The fight for freedom is ongoing. Our stories, like Harriet’s, remind us that resistance is revolutionary."

Harriet Tubman: "Every life saved, every child free—these are the victories of justice and courage."

End of Play

(Lights brighten, characters gather center stage, and the narrator reflects.)

Narrator: "The Underground Railroad was more than a network; it was a symbol of unyielding hope and resistance. Harriet Tubman’s bravery changed history, lighting the way to freedom for generations to come."

References

  • Berlin, Ira. Many Thousands Gone: The First Two Centuries of Slavery in America. Harvard University Press, 1998.
  • Foner, Eric. The Underground Railroad: Authentic Narratives and Real Stories. Oxford University Press, 2014.
  • Gates Jr., Henry Louis. Colored People: A Memoir. Vintage Books, 1992.
  • McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press, 1988.
  • Rucker, William H., and James N. Gregory. Friends Must Understand: The Literary Friendship of W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. University of Illinois Press, 1994.
  • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. New York Public Library, 2012.
  • Stampp, Kenneth M. The Peculiar Institution: Slavery in the Ante-Bellum South. Vintage, 1956.
  • Smallwood, Stephanie. Spirituals of the Underground Railroad. Indiana University Press, 2007.
  • Wilkerson, Isabel. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Penguin Press, 2020.
  • Woodson, Jacqueline. The Other Side. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2001.