New Jersey
Two Trains Running, A Great History Lesson For Black History Month
Ruben Santiago-Hudson and familiar faces return to the Two River Theater to showcase an award-winning play by August Wilson.
Two Trains Running is a perfect piece at the Two River Theater as we celebrate Black History Month.
The theater brought back a slew of familiar faces including Ruben Santiago-Hudson to direct this award-winning play by August Wilson.
About Two Trains Running
Two Trains Running is the seventh in Wilson’s ten-part Pittsburgh cycle which highlights and celebrates the African American experience in the 20th century. Throughout the Pittsburgh Cycle, Wilson captures everyday living for African American men and women, and highlights history around it.
Set in The Hill District in Pittsburgh, PA in the 1960s, Two Trains Running defines a decade most known as the civil rights era, through powerful individual characters.
The story revolves around Memphis (Chuck Cooper), the owner of a small restaurant, who fights to get a fair price for his building because he’s become a victim of eminent domain. He is adamant about getting $25,000 for his building and will not accept anything less. As the play progresses, you’ll come to realize the restaurant is not just a place to come eat, but a place of solitude for Black patrons to shield themselves from their daily struggles and harsh realities in the outside world. And for African Americans, it meant the battle for equality and civil rights.
The play begins with restaurant patrons learning about the death of Prophet Samuel, a popular wealthy evangelist. His death is the talk of the town.
At this time, the audience is introduced to Aunt Ester, a mythical figure who is more than 300 years old. She is known for dishing out wisdom and insightful advice from behind the door of her home. More importantly, Aunt Ester is seen as a revered figure who helps people get out of situations because of her advice.
You will never forget the individualistic powerful characters Wilson created in Two Trains Running
First, let me introduce you to Hambone.
When Hambone makes his first appearance, he yells “I want my Ham”. At first, you would think there is something comical about Hambone as he yells he wants his ham. But as the play progresses, Hambone proves to be more than a man yelling for his ham. His character will be a walking history lesson and you will realize the ham is a symbolization and embodiment of disparity and racism in the 1960s.
Wilson gives viewers individualistic characters that shape and mold the play.
There is Wolf, played by John Earl Jelks, who is a smooth talking brotha who places bets on the next day lottery numbers – the only way to make income in a racially charged and high unemployment era.
Then there’s Holloway, played by James A. Williams. Holloway sits at the same table, drinks the same coffee, and eats the same toast everyday. He stands out as the voice of reason.
West, played by Harvey Blanks, the town’s wealthy undertaker, tries to convince Memphis to sell his property to him for $20,000 because he insists “those white folks won’t give Memphis anything more”.
The twist in the mix comes with Sterling, played by Owison Odera. Sterling is an energetic yet passionate young man who was just released from prison for robbing a bank. It is Sterling’s take charge attitude that stirs up the group to take action for change and equality, or at least think about it.
And then there’s Risa, played by Roslyn Ruff. Risa is the object of lust for Wolf and Sterling. She is very guarded, has marks on her legs, and lags around the restaurant. Just like Hambone, you too would think something is wrong with her. But Risa’s actions, as well, will prove to have meaning as she builds a character of independence and power, showing empathy towards Hambone.
In the beginning, it would seem Hambone is nothing but a mere joke and a out of control person yelling for his ham. “I want my ham, I want my ham” he says.
See, Hambone painted a fence and in return he was to receive a ham but instead he got a chicken. Hambone thinks his work warrants him to have a ham, and so he wanted his ham. Hambone’s character is going to constantly remind you, you should have that ham, too. Wilson uses this vivid character, that will ask yourself is something better than nothing? It is Hambone’s determination that drives the message in Two Trains Running. And that is, to never give up on what’s right and fair.
History lesson
In Two Trains Running, August Wilson’s draws up a great history lesson while also highlighting how the average African American lived during these events.
Wilson stated “This play does not speak to red-lettered events of the sixties .. because at the time all of this was going on, people were still living their lives. ”
Despite the tumultuous times of the civil rghts era, the spirit of Wilson’s characters keep alive hope, change, and to simply keep on living.
Essentially, the lesson here is there are always two trains running. There is life and there is death. “Each of us rides them both”. – Wilson
Do not miss this powerful play that runs until March 3 at The Two River Theater.
For more information, please visit www.trtc.org
New Jersey
New Jersey man filmed shouting racial slurs at Black neighbors in viral video sentenced to 8 years in prison
In October, Mathews, 47, pled guilty to four counts of bias intimidation and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute.
Edward C Mathews, the New Jersey man who was captured in a viral video in 2021 harassing his Black neighbors and hurling racial epithets, has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
Sentenced
In October, Mathews, 47, pled guilty to four counts of bias intimidation and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute.
The charges stem from a July 2021 incident in which viral video showed him repeatedly calling his Black neighbors the N-word and another offensive slur outside a home in Mount Laurel, N.J.
“Our office is committed to combatting bias crimes and sending a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated in our community,” Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said in a statement. “Nobody should have to endure what these victims experienced.”
Mathews had been terrorizing his Black neighbors
Before the viral incident, a neighbor filed a harassment complaint against Mathews with the Mount Laurel Police Department. That same day, police received a report about a man who needed to be removed from the area.
When officers arrived to the scene, they found Mathews “using racial slurs while engaged in a verbal altercation with four residents,” prosecutors said. During a search of Mathews’ home, police found numerous psilocin mushrooms, which are known for their hallucinogenic effect, according to prosecutors.
Bradshaw said Mathews had been terrorizing his Black neighbors long before the viral moment, including a time when he allegedly left a threatening note on one of their vehicles. He was also accused of stalking, smearing feces on his neighbors’ windows and damaging their cars, NBC Philadelphia reported.
According to a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mathews apologized before his sentencing.
“Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future,” he told the judge, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I want to commit to rebuild the community.”
Mathews must serve at least four years before he is eligible for parole, NBC reported.
Education
Meet 6-year-old genius Declan Lopez
Meet 6-year-old Declan Lopez who is now a member of Mensa, which includes the smartest of the smartest with an IQ of 138.
Meet 6-year-old Declan Lopez, who is now a member of Mensa, which includes the smartest of the smartest with an IQ of 138, that’s Einstein level.
Declan Lopez is a genius
To put this in perspective, the highest average score for people under 64 years of age is 109.
The gifted kindergartener reads on a third or fourth grade level.
She is interested in physics particularly “the force in motion”, Lopez told ABC7.
Lopez goes to school in Dover, New Jersey where she is a shining star.
Her parents started noticing Lopez’s intelligence when she was 18 months old.
“We were on a trip in the airport, and she just started to count in Mandarin,” Declan’s mom Meachel Lopez told ABC7.
Declan’s parents make sure she’s involved in social activities like karate, soccer and music theory. The family is also exploring coding classes.
All in the family
On top of raising an exceptional daughter, there is strong evidence showing Lopez’s little brother Maddox is following in her footsteps.
The Lopez family said they might get a DNA test to see if this level of genius runs in their family.
Crime & Justice
New Jersey High School Basketball Standout Fatally Shot
Latrell Duncan, a high school basketball standout in New Jersey, was fatally shot shortly after leaving school.
Latrell Duncan, a high school basketball standout in New Jersey, was fatally shot shortly after leaving school.
Basketball Standout Latrell Duncan killed
According to reports, Latrell – a sophomore at East Orange Campus High School – was shot four times at around 3:15 PM near his H.S. He was rushed to University Hospital in Newark where died just before 4 p.m.
No arrests have been made in connection to the fatal shooting. Investigators, however, are looking for “a group of people and a vehicle seen in the area at the time of the shooting.”
“Targeted”
In an interview with the New York Times, Latrell’s aunt Marsha Douglas, told the outlet her nephew and his friends were approached by a group of men after leaving school. The group exchanged words and then eventually dispersed.
But minutes later, two people wearing ski masks and carrying a gun confronted the teenagers on a sidewalk, said Douglas, who heard the account from her nephew’s friends.
Latrell Duncan was well on his way
Duncan, a 6’1 point guard, was one of the top 10 basketball players in New Jersey. He scored 180 points last season as a freshman at East Orange Campus, helping the team to a 15-9 record in one of the most competitive conferences in the state.
His AAU team, Garden State Bounce, had described him as a “floor general, team captain, and the best point guard our program has seen.”
“He was an excellent teammate,” the team added in a social media post mourning his loss, “a great friend, and a coach’s ideal player.”
Loved ones and the community are reeling after Latrell’s murder
On Tuesday, grief counselors were sent to the 1,660-student high school campus, said Khalifah Shabazz, the district’s lawyer.
“He was a loved student,” Douglas, Latrell’s aunt said. “We’re just really saddened….He didn’t deserve this”
A GoFundMe for Duncan’s family has been set up.
Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.
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