Tacoma Little Theatre’s “From the Mississippi Delta”

Originally published on social media on June 18th, 2024

I saw “From the Mississippi Delta” on Sunday, and it has truly stuck with me.

The way this show is set up and written is very unique: there are only 3 actresses of color throughout the entire show and they are each identified by the color dress they are wearing. Each actress is a different age and thus they switch who they are playing at various times in order to tell the story, which may sound confusing but because of the way it’s written and performed, it’s very easy to follow.

This play is written by AND based on the life of Endesha Ida Mae Holland from the 1940s-1980s. The audience gets to learn about her life through the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights era, and about her journey to getting her PhD. Her story is inspiring, but also incredibly important to hear as it displays nuances of these times in history that need to be discussed.

There are moments that are heartbreaking in this play, but I believe our hearts need to be broken. Racism, sexism, and everything in between is the poison of society, and the experiences of black women need to be heard and amplified. When it comes to these topics, simple compassion is not enough. We need to lift up the voices of black people and especially black women, and (to quote the Princess Diaries) “shut up and listen.”

This play is still running through this weekend, and I sincerely hope you will buy a ticket. It is entirely worth it.