Black History Theatre Fact of the Day: 2/16

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 1:05pm

Thomas Montgomery Gregory, African-American dramatist, educator, social philosopher and activist.

From Washington D.C. his father, James Monroe Gregory, transferred from Oberlin College in 1868 to become the first student enrolled in Howard University’s College Department. He also was in the university’s first graduating class of three men, and remained as a member of the faculty. His mother, Fannie Emma Hagan, a former Howard student of Madagascan descent, mentored young students and devoted much of her life to helping “colored women.” Young Gregory was educated at Williston Seminary from 1902 to 1906.

He came to Harvard, where he was a member and president of the varsity debating team, graduating in 1910, and his class included T.S. Eliot, Walter Lippmann and John Reed. In 1919 Gregory founded the college theatre troupe, The Howard Players. Formerly, the University’s theatre interests came from the College Dramatic Club, developed in 1909 by English instructor Ernest Just and a group of students. From 1916 to 1921, Gregory was the organizer of the Howard University Department of Dramatic Art and Public Speaking and co-creator with Alain Locke of The Stylus Literary Club. He also became the first director of the drama department. The department’s course in Pageantry and Drama was the first of its kind in the U.S. to be offered for credit.

In August 1924, Gregory became Supervisor of Negro Schools, and later Principal, in Atlantic City, New Jersey where he continued to promote Negro drama. In 1929 he toured the South lecturing at eight State summer schools on educational and community drama. With the 80-year-old minstrel tradition and the popularity of Black-themed dramatic works by white writers, Gregory called attention to the efforts of Black playwrights in America. He cultivated and nurtured the concept of a National Negro Theatre Movement during the early decades of the 20th century. In 1956, he retired, and four years later returned to Washington.

A historian, leading figure in the National Negro Theatre Movement Thomas Gregory died after a long battle with leukemia, in Washington's Sibley Hospital, November 21, 1971.

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 8:01pm

Slow down for the speed______.