Charles Fuller (1) (1939–2022)

Sort of a black version of A Few Good Men. This play details the investigation of a murder that happens in a Negro unit stationed in Alabama during World War II, as the soldier's wait and hope to get sent to fight overseas. The murder, of a black NCO, is first blamed on the Klan, but as the investigation unfolds, it turns out there is more there than a simple Klan lynching. The investigation is complicated by the fact that the officer conducting the investigation is also black, and the white townspeople and officers are unwilling to recognize the authority of a black officer. The ending is a bit of a surprise, as it twists into a direction that is not expected. A terse examination of race relations and the effect they have on the communities where they exist.… (meer)

The original cast of this play included Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington, which was enough to make me curious. It turns out that this was a wonderful read about a group of black soldiers in WWII and a murder investigation that ensues when one of their own is killed. The dialogue is wonderful and the play offers a lot of opportunity for someone who wants to experiment with lighting design. For any fan of theater or African American lit., I recommend this play as a quick and worthwhile read. This is one I won't forget, and may very well end up teaching at some point.… (meer)