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The Robey Theatre Company presents Honor Bound
September 1, 2024 • 3:00 pm
Free
The Robey Theatre Company presents a live reading of
Honor Bound
By Albert Cowart, Jr.
“By word, faith and deeds”
Fall 1899, Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, aided by Margaret Washington and Almirah Steele, migrated to Denmark, South Carolina. With renewed vigor, Elizabeth is ready to open her school. In doing so, she invites former classmate, Hattie Davidson to assist her by employing teachers to help manage her school.
Federal Judge Robert Kelley has also taken interest in Elizabeth’s effort to open a school. Backed by Hattie Davidson with support from Judge Kelley and the Tuskegee family, Elizabeth is ready to introduce children of former slaves and sharecroppers to book learning. However, in Denmark, South Carolina, she encounters snags embedded in bureaucracy, racism presented by South Carolina’s school board, standing steadfast behind its Jim Crow rules. Suddenly there’s funding problems, all four teachers cannot be paid. Disillusioned but unwilling to give up, Elizabeth completes clever negotiation tactics with Judge Kelley, whom she persuades to use influence associated with his position to help her. He assists by persuading Denmark’s South Carolina’s school board members to get Lizzie’s teachers registered and paid for their work. After much ado about decorum, and limited funding, her one room school house is set to begin its day-to-day functions. To offset funding for teachers, supplies and to move her school forward, Elizabeth by passes a salary for herself to have a successful school opening. For that day, all is well. Unfortunately, a month after opening, Elizabeth’s Denmark school is burned down under mysterious circumstances. Adding insult to injury, Hattie departs from fear she’ll retaliate against those she feels are responsible for the burning incident. Along with Hattie, Elizabeth’s remaining staff depart from fear of being killed. Left alone, it becomes apparent her school won’t survive. She is left tired, stressed, and clinging to a dream. She feels the effects of her childhood illness returning. On the verge of giving up and returning home a failure, a friend comes to town.
MUST RSVP TO ATTEND:
Email [email protected] with your name, phone number, and the number of people in your party. If you need accessible seating, please let them know in the email.