Introduction: Civil disobedience as resistance to tradition and performance -- Classical origins of character and Adrienne Kennedy's Funnyhouse of a negro, Electra, and Orestes -- The Oedipus story and the perfect play, or The gospel according to Rita Dove: The darker face of the earth and Sonata Mulattica: a life in five movements and a short play -- Racial intent and dramatic form: Eugene O'Neill's All Gods' chillun got wings and The Emperor Jones -- Aristotle's Spectacle and August Wilson's Spectacle character: Joe Turner's Come and gone -- Freedom songs and metaphors of healing: Eugene O'Neill's Mourning becomes Electra, Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the sun, and Suzan-Lori Parks' Venus and Topdog/Underdog -- Truth and reconciliation: civil disobedience and the cosmopolitan citizen: Charles Smith's The gospel according to James, Thomas Bradshaw's Mary, David Mamet's Race, and Bruce Norris' Clybourne Park
