by Aleksandra Koplik
What if Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X sat down and had a conversation? What would be the outcome or consensus? Written by Jeff Stetson and directed by Quincy Armorer, Black Theatre Workshop presents The Meeting. It’s a play that addresses such timeless issues as racism, poverty and discrimination.
Fade in. The audience sees a sleeping Malcolm X (Lindsay Owen Pierre), he is awoken by his bodyguard Rashad (Kareem Tristan Alleyne). X’s house has just been bombed and his thirst for change has never been greater. He awakes from a nightmare and almost immediately greets Martin Luther King Jr. (Christian Paul). We are introduced to two completely different standpoints on racism. The two are different in almost every way possible:
King is Christian. He was a Baptist reverend.
X is Muslim (who knew!?). He converted from the Nation of Islam to Sunni Islam and became a minister.
King wants to make change through love. He believes there is no hate with love.
X pushes for change through force. He is certain that people don’t understand love, they understand action.
