A Quiet Strength: The ScottsBoro Mothers

"...in quietness and confidence shall be your strength... (Isaiah 30:15, KJV)


In ScottsBoro Boys the charismatic Sharon Washington plays a mysterious female. We see her in the opening scene as an older, African American woman sitting on a sidewalk bench facing the audience. She appears to be waiting on a ride. Plainly dressed, poised, and self contained, Washington embodies the quiet strength, dignity and enduring power of the African American woman. She clutches her chest as a drum thumps in the background. Though she has almost no lines in the play, her strong, quiet presence is striking. As the ScottsBoro Boys enter, they all acknolwedge her, paying hommage either through touch, bow, or tip of the hat. (We discover why all this reverence at the very end).

Throughout the musical, Washington appears in the background, mostly as a silent witness to the indignities and atrocities the Scottsboro Boys encounter. When the boys are stripped for delousing she picks up the clothes from the floor deliberately and carefully. Her meticulous handling of the clothing restores a measure of dignity and humanity to the humiliation of this shame-filled moment.

The guilty verdict is handed to her after it has been read aloud. She takes it and clutches it close to her heart. Undoubtedly, she represents the African American mothers, wives, and grandmothers who were also "handed the verdict" for Scottsoboro Boys. It is easy to overlook how silenced, powerless and grieved those ScottsBoro Mothers were. Washington's quiet presence in the backdrop of several cruicial scenes effectively serves as a haunting reminder that mothers were also "imprisoned" and endured in spirit along side their sons. As a Christian, I couldn't help but reflect on the biblcal account of the crucifixion where the male disciples reportedly fled the scene and only women followed quietly--from a distance. Some biblical scholars argue that women were less likey to be arrested than men back then. Ironically, I surmise the same reasons might have applied during the time of the ScotssBoro Boys.

No where is the spiritual intimacy the mother-son connection more palpable than when Haywood Patterson (Brandon Vincent Dixon ), after refusing to lie in order to receive the governor's pardon, is sentenced to life in prison. In response, Haywood sings, "You can't do me like you done me before," as he closes his eyes and does a soft-peddle dance signifying psychological liberation. Quietly, the shadowy, yet faithful, maternal presence in the distance leaves her seat and mirrors his soft dance. How captivating to watch this unjustly imprisoned, incorruptible son, tragically separated from his mother, re-unite with her through "a dance of sorrows". I was reminded of the biblical phrase from the Book of Lamentations: " The joy of our heart is ceased. Our dancing has turned into mourning. (Lam 5:15, KJV) ."

At the very end of this extraordinary piece of musical theatre, the voiceless, nameless, mystery woman returns to her seat facing the audience. Only this time she appears to be on a bus. When approached by the driver who demands that she move to the back of the bus, Washington finally breaks her silence. She tells the driver of how "tired" she is (we grasp that the use of the term "tired" refers as much to the appalling social injustice we have witnessed as to her aching feet). She refuses to give up her seat --and the rest, as we know, is history.

Motivated to read up on Rosa Parks after seeing the ScottsBoro Boys, I came across a book this winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor and mother of the modern day Civil Rights Movement had written. It was aptly titled: Quiet Strength: The Faith, the Hope , the Heart of a Woman Who Changed the Nation.

Washington's piercing portrayal rekindled my deepest respect and admiration for Rosa Parks.

No doubt, the BAE Whisperer is now also a huge admirer of Sharon Washington. She is a highly accomplished award winning actress, and an accomplished audio book narrator--obvioulsy the real thing. Her silent yet undeniable presence among the ScottsBoro Boys demands your full attention. I never knew you could do so much with silence. Washington is a gradute of the Yale School of Drama (but of course, lol) and has numerous stage, televison and film credits. Be sure to check out her website: http://www.sharonwashington.com/