—As told to Aimee Levitt
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“After slavery, there was a whole displaced group of people who weren’t used to having to make their own way. It was a completely different life. They had food supplied and housing, but they were slaves and worked like animals. Then they had freedom and had to fend for themselves. And there weren’t any jobs. So many blacks migrated to Washington, D.C., because that’s where the president was. They were looking for help. There was a flux of preachers because congregations took care of preachers. It must have been absolutely devastating. And then all of a sudden there’s an opportunity and you jump at it. In one of the drafts, [Monroe] says, ‘It was a hop, skip, and jump off the plantation.’ He’s amazed he’s paid to do work. It’s a chance to see the United States, to see different cities. For an African-American back then, it was a great, great job. You’d do anything to keep a job.
“My character is also quite crafty in terms of negotiating his way through situations. I’ve been able to accumulate my own home and building that I rent out to Pullman porters when they come through Chicago. In those days, there weren’t black hotels. If you had a layover somewhere, you had to find a place to stay, usually in the black community. It helped to know someone. My character had the insight to understand this. He was able to accumulate money and funds, with his son, to send his grandson to college. He knows how to work with the white higher-ups. My son is getting into trouble. I’m in favor with the higher-ups and I’m constantly begging—going down and getting him his job back. In one scene, one of the higher-ups tells me I have to beg on my knees. Which I do.
Pullman Porter Blues 9/14-10/20
Wed-Thu 7:30 PM
Fri-Sat 8 PM Sun 2 and 7:30 PM Check with theater for additional performances Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn
312-443-3800
goodmantheatre.com $25-$86
