Death Of The Last Black Man Analysis

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The historical suffering of the African-American people through exploitation and persecution by the white ruling classes started with the exploration of Africa by Europeans. In the modern era from the colonial times to the Civil Right Act of 1965 this suffering and the black historical significance became marginalized, and neglected in the dominant white cultural history. Playwright Suzanne Lori-Parks captures the violent and brutal treatment of the African-American people along with their rich culture using stereotypes and historical characters. In addition, Parks utilizes the use of stylistic traits of the black cultural music genre jazz in the play to compliment character depictions. Suzanne Lori-Parks ' The Death of the Last Black Man, …show more content…
Throughout the play, Parks uses jazz music traits to provide another dimension to the playwright. Jazz music is a genre that emerged from African culture that has musical traits derived from the African music and a form oral communication. (source for sure) Two forms of jazz used in The Death of the Last Black Man are call and response and scat singing. (source) Further, call and response and scat singing usage, are a tool that allows there to be an emphasis of a particular beat or theme. Parks uses this characteristic of repetition in jazz music throughout her play as a way to unconsciously highlight the main themes or the significance of the African-American oppression. For instance, Parks’ repeats, “The black man moves. His hands-…The black man moves his hands. – He moves his hands round… Thuh black man he move. He move he hans.” (Parks 102-104) In the quote above, we are shown the same theme repeated throughout a number of pages of in The Death of the Last Black Man. This repetition initially makes the reader see significance with the black man moving his hands, however we also see the use of scat in these collective lines. Scat is a style of jazz that adds variation upon a musical theme, or in The Death of the Last Black Man a lyrical(?) theme. (probable source) The variation …show more content…
An example of the stereotypes placed on African-Americans is a consistent theme within Panel One in Park’s play. In Panel One, Black Women with Fried Drumstick and Black Man with Watermelon within their dialogue repeatedly question why they have received the stereotypical identity that has been placed upon them. “Melon mines?-. Dont look like me…Hen mine?...Was we green stripedly when we first come out?” (Parks 107) Through the quote we see that Black Man with Watermelon and Black Woman with Fried Drumstick are confused about the stereotype that they have both received. This shows that both characters don’t find the watermelon or a hen to be valid assumptions to who they are as people. However, their questioning indicates a confusion to how they perceive their identity, wondering if these objects were what they came from or that is all they will ever be seen as, a watermelon or a fried drumstick. What is also important to consider is that all the names for the characters in Park’s play are written to be stereotypes on African-Americans. With Parks’ usage of stereotypical names gives the play a powerful allegorical significance as it displays a worded burden placed on many African-Americans. Furthermore, the use of stereotypes as

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