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Jitney Poses Old Questions to New Audiences

THE AFRO — Modern audiences are all too familiar with topics regarding racial inequities, widespread gentrification, car service regulations, senseless violence, PTSD and unhealthy relationships with parents and children, which is why it is a true testament that August Wilson’s “Jitney,” set and written in the late 1970s, is a timeless story that resonates across backgrounds, demographics and generations.

Published

6 years ago

October 8, 2019

Oakland Post

“Jitney” by legendary writer August Wilson runs at Arena Stage until Oct. 27. (Photo by: Joan Marcus)

By Micha Green

Modern audiences are all too familiar with topics regarding racial inequities, widespread gentrification, car service regulations, senseless violence, PTSD and unhealthy relationships with parents and children, which is why it is a true testament that August Wilson’s “Jitney,” set and written in the late 1970s, is a timeless story that resonates across backgrounds, demographics and generations.

An intergenerational story in itself, Wilson meshes social justice and civil rights challenges with characters, all who have their personal quirks and challenges that make them important to the storytelling of Arena Stage’s 70thAnniversary Season performance of “Jitney.”

Wilson’s words are penetrating, particularly in the sense that over 40 years later, “Jitney,” has a way of perfectly resonating with audiences.

“There are few voices that articulate the American experience with the honesty and the bittersweet beauty of August Wilson,” Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith wrote in the play’s program notes.

In an exclusive interview with the AFRO, Wilson’s wife Constanza Romero Wilson explained how the play’s story lines connect with modern day audiences.

“[It’s a] lot of characters that everybody recognizes–their nosey uncle, their very stubborn or authoritative father. August wrote recognizable humans that have a lot of passion for life and they want justice in their daily lives,” said Wilson’s widow, who is a costume designer. “On the other hand, the topics that are being talked about in 1970s Pittsburgh are present today in 2019. We have cycles of young violence, young people that are aimless. They don’t have a clear path for life, and they can offer so much. And we also have disillusioned parents. And then we have young people who have fallen in love and they have a hard time starting their lives.”

Romero Wilson noted that the directing also contributes to the way modern audiences in D.C. can connect with late 1970s Pittsburgh.

“I think that a wise director directs the play so that it speaks to the modern audiences,” she told the AFRO “We’re still trying to introduce August Wilson to younger audiences, to younger generations, and it speaks as loudly now as it did then.”

Directed by multifaceted artist and performer Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who was also at the helm of the 2017 Tony-Award winning revival, “Jitney,” is an honest portrayal of people who desire to fight past challenges, celebrate triumphs, move onto new opportunities and create their own paths.

With an intricate, yet practical set designed by David Gallo, audiences are immediately welcomed into the jitney, a car service, with a desk, couch, refrigerator, ride tallying board, checkers board and chairs. It’s clear that the car service office has seen better days, newer floors and more business through the technical elements and the casts’ recognizable desire to balance desperation, frustration, hope and a yearning for more. Even through the play’s sound (designed by Darron L. West and Charles Coes), opening with original Blues music by Bill Sims Jr., audiences can understand that this play will show the bewildering beauty in pain and hardship.

The jitney drivers provide rides where taxis won’t go. Much like today’s modern car and ride share services, jitneys turned people with cars to honorable and reliable businessmen for their communities.

Despite the looming threat of gentrification and loss, watching the characters battle personal and financial frustration, celebrate beautiful moments, and seek more for their lives is what keeps audiences engaged in the storytelling of “Jitney.”

Santiago-Hudson found a way for the actors to work cohesively on stage and command the set, as if they actually experienced working in a 1970s car service office.

While it may have taken the first few minutes to adjust to the dialects, and interesting speech idiosyncrasies’ of the characters, each actor lived in the truth of Wilson’s words. These veteran artists, many of whom have spent much of their careers tackling the playwright’s words, quickly transported the 2019 D.C. audience to 1977 Pittsburgh.

Turnbo (Ray Anthony Thomas), Youngblood (Amari Cheatom), Doub (Keith Randolph Smith) and Fielding (Anthony Chisholm) are the drivers who set the tone of the life of jitney drivers, while Becker (Steven Anthony Jones), who runs the service, is an example of the man who never stops working and sacrificing. Each driver had their own stories and strong acting choices that led them to be fully developed characters, with feelings and goals.

Thomas as Turnbo, the slick, nosy figure, who might come off as annoying and a troublemaker, shows that even with these less than desirable qualities, the man just wants to be accepted.

Youngblood might be hot-tempered with a smart mouth, but audiences empathize with Cheatom’s portrayal as he shows the young man’s fears and desires for greatness.

Doub-who is somewhat of the car service’s moral compass- is not just the good guy, because in Smith’s portrayal of the role, audiences can see a man who overcame a lot of trauma, who works hard to make good choices, and who wants the best for the generation behind him.

Then there’s the sweet, drunk Fielding, who, as an actor has the hard challenge of “playing drunk,”- which is difficult because people who are inebriated work to show they are not intoxicated. Chisholm’s Fielding is quite believable as he balances the drunk, old man gurgle in his voice, well-meaning actions, struggle of fighting alcoholism, and clinging to memories past.

Jones as Becker is like watching an acting workshop, as his bold clear choices show a man who is battling with secrets, feelings of betrayal, responsibility, good intentions and pain. The entire theatre shifts once Jones reveals that he is not just a good guy, but is also an unforgiving, belligerent and disappointed parent. Jones is able to simultaneously balance and portray both sides of his character until his last moment on stage.

Francoise Battiste as Booster gives audiences chills. Although his character enters later into the play, his presence immediately commands attention and lingers even when he’s gone. Watching Battiste and Jones play off one another is like watching a close tennis match, as heads move from man to man, actor to actor, hurt person to hurt person, and audiences are treated to real truths and human experiences.

Strong performances by Harvy Blanks as Shealy and Brian D. Coats as Philmore add color and comedy to the drama, and keeps audiences missing them when they’re gone.

Nija Okoro holds it down as the only woman in the cast, Rena, and she is representing for strong, intelligent, creative and well-dressed Black women. Each time Okoro stepped on stage there was a shift. Her presence required anyone in the room to pay attention to her words and empathize with her desires, and through Okoro’s honest portrayal of Rena, audiences are treated to powerful monologues and perfectly timed comedic relief.

Elements of theatricality such as well-executed and believable fight scenes (Thomas Schall) and tableaus heightened the stakes of the play and kept audiences interested in each actors’ movements.

The costumes (Toni-Leslie James) and lights (Jane Cox) were also beautiful, becoming characters in themselves, and added a value that set the mood and tone of the time period, while also appealing to the eyes of modern audiences.

“Jitney,” will have audiences considering their own ways of dealing with life’s lemons and showcases how these Black people in Pittsburgh tackled challenges- with tropes that cross demographics.

“When August wrote this play, the Black community took matters into their own hands- and it’s a story about determination. And they said, ‘Well, if taxis aren’t going to come to our side of town, we are going to start having these jitney cabs. It’s a story about self-determination,” Romero Wilson told the AFRO. “There’s so many other human stories that run through the play, that I think that there’s plenty of story lines and moments that people can relate to.”

Due to popular demand, “Jitney” has been extended to Oct. 27 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024.

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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LIHEAP Funds Released After Weeks of Delay as States and the District Rush to Protect Households from the Cold

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding.

Published

6 days ago

December 1, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal government has released $3.6 billion in home heating assistance after a delay that left states preparing for the start of winter without the program’s annual funding. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills. The release follows a shutdown that stretched 43 days and pushed agencies across the country to warn families of possible disruptions.

State officials in Minnesota, Kansas, New York, and Pennsylvania had already issued alerts that the delay could slow the processing of applications or force families to wait until December for help. In Pennsylvania, more than 300,000 households depend on the program each year. Minnesota officials noted that older adults, young children, and people with disabilities face the highest risk as temperatures fall.

The delay also raised concerns among advocates who track household debt tied to rising utility costs. National Energy Assistance Directors Association Executive Director Mark Wolfe said the funds were “essential and long overdue” and added that high arrearages and increased energy prices have strained families seeking help.

Some states faced additional pressure when other services were affected by the shutdown. According to data reviewed by national energy advocates, roughly 68 percent of LIHEAP households also receive nutrition assistance, and the freeze in multiple programs increased the financial burden on low-income residents. Wolfe said families were placed in “an even more precarious situation than usual” as the shutdown stretched into November.

In Maryland, lawmakers urged the Trump administration to release funds after the state recorded its first cold-related death of the season. The Maryland Department of Health reported that a man in his 30s was found outdoors in Frederick County when temperatures dropped. Last winter, the state documented 75 cold-related deaths, the highest number in five years. Rep Kweisi Mfume joined more than 100 House members calling for immediate federal action and said LIHEAP “is not a luxury” for the 100,000 Maryland households that rely on it. He added that seniors and veterans would be placed at risk if the program remained stalled.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore used $10.1 million in state funds to keep benefits moving, but noted that states cannot routinely replace federal dollars. His administration said families that rely on medical equipment requiring electricity are particularly vulnerable.

The District of Columbia has already mapped out its FY26 LIHEAP structure in documents filed with the federal government. The District’s plan shows that heating assistance, cooling assistance, weatherization, and year-round crisis assistance operate from October 1 through September 30. The District allocates 50 percent of its LIHEAP funds to heating assistance, 10 percent to cooling, 13 percent to year-round crisis assistance, 15 percent to weatherization, and 10 percent to administrative costs. Two percent is used for services that help residents reduce energy needs, including education on reading utility bills and identifying energy waste.

The District’s plan lists a minimum LIHEAP benefit of $200 and a maximum of $1,800 for both heating and cooling assistance. Crisis benefits are provided separately and may reach up to $500 when needed to resolve an emergency. The plan states that a household is considered in crisis if it has been disconnected from energy service, if heating oil is at 5 percent or less of capacity, or if the household has at least $200 owed after the regular benefit is applied.

The District’s filing notes that LIHEAP staff conduct outreach through community meetings, senior housing sites, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, social media, posters, and mass mailings. The plan confirms that LIHEAP applicants can apply in person, by mail, by email, or through a mobile-friendly online application and that physically disabled residents may request in-home visits.

As agencies nationwide begin distributing the newly released funds, states continue working through large volumes of applications. Wolfe said LIHEAP administrators “have been notified that the award letters have gone out and the states can begin to draw down the funds.”

Stacy M. Brown

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Seven Steps to Help Your Child Build Meaningful Connections

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Swinging side by side with a friend on the playground. Sharing chalk over bright, colorful sidewalk drawings. Hiding behind a tree during a spirited game of hide-and-seek. These simple moments between children may seem small, but they matter more than we think

Published

6 days ago

December 1, 2025

Oakland Post

By Niyoka McCoy, Ed.D., Chief Learning Officer, Stride/K12

Swinging side by side with a friend on the playground. Sharing chalk over bright, colorful sidewalk drawings. Hiding behind a tree during a spirited game of hide-and-seek. These simple moments between children may seem small, but they matter more than we think: They lay the foundation for some of life’s most important skills.

Through everyday play, young children begin learning essential social and emotional skills like sharing, resolving conflicts, showing empathy, and managing their emotions. These social skills help shape emotional growth and set kids up for long-term success. Socialization in early childhood isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential for development.

Yet today, many young children who haven’t yet started school aren’t getting enough consistent, meaningful interaction with peers. Research shows that there’s a decline in active free play and peer socialization when compared to previous generations.

There are many reasons for this. Children who are home with a parent during the day may spend most of their time with adults, limiting opportunities for peer play. Those in daycare or preschool may have restricted free play, and large classrooms can reduce supervision and social coaching. Some children live in rural areas, are homebound due to illness, have full schedules, or rely on screens to fill their playtime. And for some families, finding other families with young children to connect with isn’t easy.

While these challenges can feel significant, opportunities for connection still exist in every community. Families can take simple steps to help children build friendships, create a sense of belonging, and strengthen social skills. Here are some ideas to get started:

Storytime sessions at libraries or local bookstores
Community offerings such as parent-child workshops, art, music, gymnastics, swimming, or sports programs
Weekly events at children’s museums, which may include art projects, music workshops, or science experiments
Outdoor exploration, where kids can play with peers
Local parenting groups that organize playdates and group activities
Volunteer opportunities where children can participate, such as pet adoption events or packing meals at a food bank
Classes for kids at local businesses, including hardware, grocery, or craft stores

Some of these community activities are free or low-cost and give kids the chance to build friendships and practice social skills. Parents can also model positive social behavior by interacting with other parents and encouraging their children to play with their peers.

These may seem like small moments of connection, but they can have a powerful impact. Every time your child shares a toy, plays make-believe with peers, or races a friend down the slide, they’re not just playing—they’re learning the skills that build confidence, empathy, and lasting friendships. And it’s good for you, too. Creating intentional opportunities for play also helps you strengthen your own network of parents who can support one another as your children grow together.

Oakland Post

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Seven Steps to Help Your Child Build Meaningful Connections

Published

6 days ago

December 1, 2025

Oakland Post

By Niyoka McCoy, Ed.D., Chief Learning Officer, Stride/K12

Storytime sessions at libraries or local bookstores
Community offerings such as parent-child workshops, art, music, gymnastics, swimming, or sports programs
Weekly events at children’s museums, which may include art projects, music workshops, or science experiments
Outdoor exploration, where kids can play with peers
Local parenting groups that organize playdates and group activities
Volunteer opportunities where children can participate, such as pet adoption events or packing meals at a food bank
Classes for kids at local businesses, including hardware, grocery, or craft stores