The Witnesses-Drama Skit

The Witnesses-Drama Skit

Themes: Black History; Martin Luther King Jr Day
Categories: Black History 
Summary:

April 4, 1968 was a tragic and historic day in our history, marking the end of Martin Luther King Jr's life.  Told through the eyes of the witnesses who were there on the day he died, this skit depicts the humanity of one of our country's greatest leaders. Plagued with death threats, bomb scares and even a physical stabbing, Dr. King often contemplated giving up his dream for a more "normal" life.  He even predicted he would not live to see his 40th birthday. See what took place on that fateful day in Memphis as told by the men who were there to witness it: Jesse Jackson, Billy Kyles, Ralph Abernathy, James  Bevel, Andrew Young, and James Orange.  Then see how Dr. King's dream lives on in each of us, and why Rev. Billy Kyles believes God put him there to witness such a tragic event. 

Told by using actual events, this skit will transport you to that tragic day in Memphis and give you a glimpse into the real life and death of Martin Luther King Jr. (Includes a brief transcript of the "I've Been to the Mountain Top" speech.)

 
Notes:

This skit is based on the accounts of those who were with Martin Lutehr King Jr on the day he died.  While the main sotry and events have been preserved as much as possible through research, some creative liberties were also taken.

 
Style: Drama

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Characters: 8 (7 Male, 1 Neutral)
Length: 8-10 minutes
 
Excerpt (Sample)

Setting: A hotel room. You can be as detailed as you like with the props, but at the very least, there should be several chairs on stage.  Somewhere there should be a sign with the words, "Lorraine Hotel, Room 306" written on it. 

As the scene opens, Narrator stands to the left side of the stage.

Narrator:

You cannot hear the words "Civil Rights Movement," and not think of the man who was famously behind it: Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. (Martin) enters and sits in one of the chairs, his head in hands.  He is very somber and contemplative. 

Narrator:

But as famous as he may have been in life, it seems his death is what may have ultimately defined Mr. King. 

 

What follows is an account of Mr. King's final hours, and the events that led up to his untimely death, on April 4, 1968.  These accounts are based on those who knew him best.

As the narrator reads each name, that character enters and stands center stage.

Narrator:

Rev. Jesse Jackson. (enters)
Rev. Ralph Abernathy. (enters) 

Andrew Young. (enters)

James Bevel. (enters)
James Orange. (enters)

And Samuel "Billy" Kyles. (enters)

 

These men served as Mr. King's aides, his friends, and his confidantes. They were the   closest witnesses to his life (pause) and ultimately, his death.

 Andrew, James Bevel, James Orange and Kyles exit.  Jackson steps forward to center stage.

Jesse:

(speaking to the audience) I will never forget those last few precious hours spent in the presence of my friend and mentor.  Ralph Abernathy and I were with Martin in Memphis the day before the shooting, to speak at a Civil Rights' rally.    

Ralph:

(steps forward and speaks to the audience)  Jesse and I spent the day with Martin, holed up in that small room of the Lorraine Hotel, and Martin was talkative, but melancholy. 

Jesse:

He was reminiscing about his past, about his family, how his parents met etc.

Ralph:

When he talked about his family, his face would light up and he would smile...but when it was quiet, Martin would get a far-off look in his eye. 

Jesse and Ralph take the seat near Martin. Martin looks off into the distance, as if contemplating something.

Ralph:

(concerned) Martin, are you okay?

No response is heard from Martin, as he continues to stare off into the distance.

Ralph:

Martin?

Martin:

What? (noticing the looks of concern of Jesse and Ralph's faces) Oh, I'm fine; a little tired perhaps.  

Jesse:

That's understandable. I don't know anyone who works as hard as you.

Martin:

I've considered giving it all up, you know.

Ralph:

(shocked) The Civil Rights movement?

Martin:

At times, yes.

Ralph:

But we're so close.  A new revolution is right around the corner; I can feel it! You can't give up now!

Jesse:

You know he couldn't give all this up, even if he wanted to.  He'd miss it too much.

Martin:

What's there to miss? The ache in my feet after days of protest marching? The death threats? The stabbings? The jail time?

Ralph:

(smiles) I suppose we have been thrown in jail more than most.  What are we up to now?

Martin:

(smiles) About 17 times, at last count. 

Ralph:

(smiling) Knowing us, I'm sure that won't be the last!

Jesse:

Just think of all you've already accomplished, and there's so much more work to be done - it's your life-long dream.

Martin:

(becoming more somber) I'm not sure how much life I've got left.

Ralph:

Don't say things like that, Martin.

Martin:

Why not? It's true.  You've heard the threats of violence, seen the bombs tossed into my home.  There was even the threat of a plane bomb on my trip here! I've seriously begun to question whether or not I will ever make it to see my 40th birthday.  

Jesse:

You've survived it all so far.  You were put here for a reason, and that reason is the dream that lives inside of you - that lives inside all of us. 

Martin:

I'm thinking it might be time to pass the reins of that dream on to someone else; to step back and settle into a more normal life-style.

Ralph:

Doing what?

Martin:

I've considered becoming a full-time author or even accepting a position with Morehouse College. They're always in need of knowledgeable teachers.

Jesse:

You can't be serious!

Martin:

Sometimes the fight seems more than I can handle.  It would be nice to step back into the shadows of "normal" life again.

Martin, Jesse, and Ralph "freeze" as Narrator speaks to the audience

 

 

Narrator:

As a Baptist minister, Martin Luther King, Jr. was a moral leader to the community. He was a charismatic and powerful speaker, full of vision and determination. He never stopped dreaming of what could be. Yet he was human, and was most often overworked and overtired.

Few people knew that Martin suffered desperate stretches of depression that often alarmed even his closest friends.

Ralph:

(un-freezes and speaks to audience) Martin fought hard to maintain his sanity and continue his focus in the midst of all the surrounding turmoil.

Jesse:

(un-freezes and speaks to audience) Many of us wanted him to see a psychiatrist because he would slip into these dark depressions.  Even the sleeping pills he got from his doctor quit working, and when he did sleep, he had horrible nightmares.

Narrator:

Not even his vacations allowed Martin to escape his troubles.  He was so preoccupied with his death, so obsessed with its likely occurrence, that in his last few years, whenever he saw a stranger, he wondered if they might be the messenger of death.

 

It was said that Martin could only relax in a room with no windows.  If a room had windows, he would be tortured with worry about who might pull a trigger and if a bullet would find him.

 

There were very few people with whom Martin could confide the depths of his depression and obsession.  As a result, he suffered huge grief of soul and heart, largely alone.

Jesse:

Martin, you can't possibly think of quitting...

Martin:

Don't worry, Jesse.  I said sometimes.  (long pause, as if he's thinking hard) I know I can't stop now. I've got to go on, just like I've always done before. 

Ralph:

Speaking of "going on," we'd better get going if we're going to make that rally on time.

Martin:

Why don't you two go without me.  I want to stay here and work on some ideas for one of our campaigns. 

Ralph:

But the people will be expecting you...

Martin:

Like I said, it's nice to pass the torch on to someone else once in awhile.  You'll do fine without me.

Jesse and Ralph exit the stage

 

 

Narrator:

So Jesse Jackson and Ralph Abernathy took off for the rally at Mason Temple on April 3, 1968.  When they arrived, they were met with loud cheers and acclamations. Ralph recognized immediately the cheers were not for themselves directly, but because the crowd thought Martin was trailing behind them. 

 

Smiling to themselves, Ralph and Jesse immediately called Martin and told him, "You really ought to come down here."

Jesse and Ralph enter and stand near the stage exit

Ralph:

And so he did.  He was only supposed to speak for a few minutes.

Jesse:

But he got up in front of that church and he began to reminisce just has he had done earlier that day.

Ralph:

Then suddenly his voice grew almost electric.  He began to speak with an intensity and a power that so often accompanied his words; words that would be forever immortalized in our history. 

Martin:

(walks toward center stage and speaks to the audience)

 

"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop...."