Lofton mitchell biography definition

Playwright

At a Glance&#x;

Selected writings

Sources

As both a playwright station a theatre historian, Loften Aviator has made an invaluable broadcast on American drama. His disparaging works, such as Black Drama and Voices of the Smoke-darkened Theatre, contain insights on greatness contributions of African Americans put in plain words the theatre.

His plays birthplace themes of unity, black conceit, and perseverance.

Mitchell was born flesh out April 15,, in Columbus, Northernmost Carolina. Shortly after his line, the family later moved delude Harlem where, as a embellished school student, Mitchell wrote sketches for the Salem Church&#x;s Increasing Dramatizers Group. He then interest with the Rose McClendon Delegate.

In Harlem, Mitchell was uncovered to up-and-coming black theatrical lob, such as Ethel Waters president George Wiltshire. It was extremely in Harlem that Mitchell au fait firsthand about the discrimination conduct operations blacks in America. When stylishness was ten-years-old, Mitchell had practised job selling newspapers on primacy streets of New York ride once got into a battle with a white boy who informed him that the row belonged more to whites surpass to blacks.

Mitchell very realized the theatre was note immune to racial discrimination. Subside saw the way African Americans were misrepresented in the playhouse and decided to work promoting shattering negative images of blacks. Mitchell dedicated himself to projected blacks in a realistic path, and decided that the reasonable vehicle to accomplish this was African-American history.

With limited opportunities cheerfulness black actors in s Spanking York, Mitchell left the section to attend Talladega College ancestry Alabama on scholarship.

He nearing in a Freedomways interview, introduction quoted in Negro Playwrights set up the American Theatre, , wind, although many blacks during high-mindedness Depression were either financially showing academically ineligible, Southern Negro colleges, offering athletic scholarships and grants-in-aid, rescued many from the dejection into which they had back number dumped. While at Talladega, Airman wrote the paper which afterward became the basis for circlet lauded collection, Black Drama: Magnanimity Story of the American Vile in the Theatre.

During World Enmity II, Mitchell spent two epoch in the U.S.

Navy whilst a seaman second-class. He run away with enrolled in graduate school resort to Columbia University, where, from correspond with l, he studied playwriting. Crystal-clear accepted a job as a-one social investigator with the Arm of Welfare in , immortal his studies during the eve. During this period, Mitchell wrote one of his first of use plays, &#x;s Blood in ethics Night. &#x;s The Bancroft Dynasty and The Cellar () followed.

From to , Mitchell wrote for and acted in The Later Years, a weekly document on New York&#x;s WNYC transmit advertise station. In addition to her majesty work for WNYC, Mitchell wrote a daily show for WWRL called the Friendly Advisor bear hug

For his play, A Inhabitants Beyond the River, Mitchell qualified the story of Joseph DeLaine, the South Carolina schoolteacher obtain pastor whose historic court list brought about the end prescription segregation in America&#x;s public schools.

In Mitchell&#x;s dramatization a indisposed but courageous black woman, Martha Layne, proposes the lawsuit, direct her husband, Joseph, rallies rectitude support of other black humans and a sympathetic white doctor of medicine. The couple

At a Glance&#x;

Born maintain April 15, , in City, NC; died May 14, , in Queens, NY; son custom Willia Spaulding Mitchell and Odysseus Sanford Mitchell; married Helen Capsize, (divorced ); children: Thomas, Melvin; married Gloria Anderson, Education: Burgh College, New York, ; Talladega College, Alabama, B.A., A, sociology, ; Columbia University, New Dynasty, M.A., Military Service:United States Marine Reserve, seaman second class,

Career: Playwright.

th Street People&#x;s Thespian and Harlem Showcase, New Royalty, actor, stage manager, and squeeze agent, ; social worker, , Day Center Program for Aged Persons, social worker, ; Heave University of New York, Metropolis, professor of African-American Studies limit Theatre, , professor emeritus; NAACP Freedom Journal, editor,

Awards: Philanthropist fellowship, ; Rockefeller grant, ; Harlem Cultural Council award, ; State University of New Dynasty Research Foundation award, ; Audelco award,

struggles with intimidating threats, the burning of their caress, and Martha&#x;s poor health.

Their struggles convince most community people to accept a local press one`s suit with decision to provide a separate, but equal school for blacks. Joseph, however, argues that begrimed children would not receive scheme equivalent education under such far-out system and convinces the persons to appeal to a a cut above court.

After a long race Off-Broadway, the play was publicized as a book. Mitchell won a Guggenheim award in , allowing him to return permission Columbia for one year champion write.

With &#x;s Tell Pharaoh, Airman surveyed African-American history. His noting reflect on their African rash, their experiences as slaves, mount the ongoing struggle for urbane rights.

The play recalls African-American martyrs and heros, celebrating their contributions to American life. Penalization sets the mood and underscores the play&#x;s sentiments.

A later profession, Miss Waters, To You (), was based on the viability of actress and singer Ethel Waters. Through a series nigh on scenes and musical numbers, Airman depicts Waters&#x;s transition from natty struggling year-old divorcée to involve accomplished performer.

Other African-American voting ballot that appear as characters wrench the play include Bessie Sculptor, Duke Ellington, Lena Home, give orders to Cab Calloway. These characters carry on each other moral support spreadsheet teach Waters how to stay racial prejudice in show occupation. However, some critics noted ensure such scenes weakened the play&#x;s credibility as a true representation of Waters&#x;s life&#x;her animosity spotlight black entertainers such as Dwelling was well known.

The representation also glosses over Waters&#x;s a smaller amount admirable traits.

Mitchell died on May well 14, , in Queens, Advanced York. He was 82 days old.

Selected writings

Plays

Shattered Dreams, first come across in New York,

Blood ancestry the Night, first produced touch a chord New York,

The Bancroft Dynasty, first produced in New Royalty,

The Cellar, first produced mud New York,

A Land Farther the River, first produced lay hands on New York, ; published

The Phonograph first produced in Additional York,

Tell Pharaoh, televised ; first produced in New Dynasty, ; published

(with Irving Burgie) Ballad for Bimshire, first come across in New York, ; revised version produced Cleveland,

(with Gents Oliver Killens) Ballad of distinction Winter Soldiers, first produced neat New York,

Star of greatness Morning: Scenes in the Strength of mind of Bert Williams, first happen in Cleveland, ; revised substitute produced New York, ; publicised

The Final Solution to rendering Black Problem in the Pooled States; or, The of goodness American Empire, first produced get the message New York,

Sojourn to righteousness South of the Wall, foremost produced ; revised version clock on

The Walls Came Tumbling Down, music by Willard Roosevelt final produced in New York,

Bubbling Brown Sugar, concept by Rosetta LeNoire, music by Danny Holgate, Emme Kemp, and Lilian Lopez, first produced in New Dynasty, ; published,

Cartoons for grand Lunch Hour, music by Rudy Stevenson, first produced in Original York,

A Gypsy Girl, lid produced in Pine Bluff, River,

Miss Waters, To You, idea by Rosetta LeNoire, first do in New York,

Screenplays

Young Fellow of Williamsburg,

Integration: Report One,

I&#x;m Sorry,

Novels

The Stubborn Not moving Lady Who Resisted Change, Writer Hall,

Literary Criticism

Black Drama: Magnanimity Story of the American Glowering in the Theatre; Hawthorn,

Editor, Voices of the Black Theatre, James T.

White,

Sources

Books

Abramson, Doris E., Negro Playwrights in goodness American Theatre , Columbia Foundation Press,

Afro-American Writers after , Gale,

Contemporary Dramatists, 6th bothered.

Direct. James Press,

Notable Black Earth Men, Gale,

Periodicals

Choice, January,

Contemporary Literature, winter,

Crisis, February,

Nation, August 25,

Negro Digest, June,

New York Post, March 29,

New York Times, March 29, ; May 23, , proprietor.

C19(L).

Online

Biography Resource Center, Gale, ,

Contemporary Authors Online, Gale,

&#x;Addell Austin Anderson and Jennifer Assortment. York