
← Our Ancestors Were Messy7 May 2025 · 57 min
The Emperor Jones: Our Ancestors' Favorite Play
The Emperor Jones: Our Ancestors' Favorite Play
In 1920, Emperor Jones was a bona fide Broadway hit. The controversial play’s lead is Charles Gilpin, the first Black man to head up an integrated cast on the Great White Way. Gilpin enjoys fame, accolades, and universal acclaim…but he does have a note for his playwright Eugene O’Neil. A note that will make and break careers and change the course of Black history!