This story is told from the perspective of Roy, a once slave who is now living in his freedom. He begins the scene by sharing the ingredients of this wonderful bowl of vegetable stew that he is making. He is happy and jovial dancing around his kitchen with an energy that lights up the room. But once he begins to share his story about how he got his freedom he takes us back to a time not so long ago for him when he was a slave. Not only was he a slave but he was a slave in Mississippi, at the height of the slave trade. And he was special to his master because he was a boxer. Whatever sport the master was interested in he utilized his slaves to make it come true. So, as Roy began to train to be a boxer the master realized how good he was and started to use him to fight other slaves from other plantations to make money. But eventually the only thing Roy wanted to do was to live his life, be a father to his children and a husband to his wife but master said no. He forced Roy to train his son to take over for him. Unfortunately, Roy knew that before there can be the next great fighter the present great fighter must die in the ring. This is a story about the unfortunate atrocities that happened to this particular man while he lived on a plantation and the only thing he sought out was freedom. Sometimes we forget to appreciate the simple things in life like being able to make a choice, being able to love and breathe in life as we choose it or being able to share a bowl of vegetable stew and a piece of cornbread with friends and family. A story that reminds us that history happened, and it is our responsibility to honor it as Roy honored his family. *Performer needs to be of African American descent.
Freedom Fighter
(Scene opens with Roy, he is a man in his 70s. He dances around the kitchen with a towel on his shoulder as he seasons a pot of something good. He tastes, decides what’s missing and continues to dance to the song playing in his head. He sees the audience, nods and offers a spoonful.) My deepest apologies I didn't see you standing there. But now that you're here, right here in my kitchen and I want to treat you like I treat any of my guests on a day where I am lucky enough to have seven different vegetables simmering here in this pot and all the seasonings that I needed. Can you smell it? (He inhales the aroma and is giddy to the point of a little dance at how good it smells) There is something about the aroma of tomatoes, red peppers, green peppers, onion, zucchini, corn, and jalapenos. You mix all of those vegetables with some water and all these good seasonings I have working over here, and you got yourself a vegetable stew. I got cornbread cooking in the oven, tonight we are going to eat good. Good God good! (He tastes again, something is missing.) My God, my God what is missing? (He looks around the kitchen) I got my peppers and my onions, plenty of tomatoes what is missing? (He laughs) When I used to cook for my wife and my sons, she would always tell me, “Only thing missing from any of our good meals is freedom. Only thing missing is freedom.” (Beat) I never figured out what ingredient that was. Freedom. But my wife Anne, and my boys James, Cliff, and Samson always loved my food. (Beat) I wish they had gotten to taste it with that little pinch of freedom.