Obama-ology

Aurin Squire

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781783192045
• eBook ISBN: 9781783197033
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Letteratura
• Subtopic: Teatro britannico

When African-American college graduate Warren takes a job with the 2008 Obama campaign, he's fired up and ready to go – until he lands in the troubled streets of East Cleveland. But somewhere between knocking on doors, fending off cops, and questioning his own racial and sexual identity, he learns that changing society isn't as easy as he imagined. Obama-ology is a compelling journey into the lives of the black minority of East Cleveland. This invisible underclass – despondent after a lifetime of presidential campaigns with only the educated, white candidate to represent them – have the flame of hope reignited by a passionate young man canvassing for Obama.

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE: THE JOURNEY BEGINS

WARREN packs a suitcase.

INSTRUCTORS: Dear volunteer, this is bigger than you.

WARREN: I am ready.

INSTRUCTOR #1: Are you prepared to travel?

WARREN: Wherever you need me.

INSTRUCTOR #2: What about a swing state?

WARREN: Sunny, beautiful Florida? The shores of North Carolina?

INSTRUCTOR #1: You’re a bit young to be an official, paid staffer.

WARREN: Yes, but this campaign is about the youth and I want to be a part of this moment. Now I know I’m very young but I graduated with honors at the top of my class. And I still believe.

INSTRUCTORS: Still believe in…

WARREN: America. Its people. This campaign.

INSTRUCTOR #1: You’re right. You are very young.

INSTRUCTOR #2: Being a campaign staffer means being the face of a candidate.

INSTRUCTOR #2: Why do you want to be the face?

WARREN: I think this election is about more than Obama.

INSTRUCTOR #3: Oh really?

WARREN: It’s about what this country is and what it will be.

INSTRUCTOR #3: And what is that?

WARREN: I don’t know. But I want to find out. And I’m packed. I’m fired up and ready to go.

INSTRUCTOR #1: Well okay, Warren. You got your sun tan lotion?

WARREN: Check.

INSTRUCTOR #2: Swim trunks?

WARREN: Double check.

INSTRUCTOR #3: Then follow our instructions and get ready for sunny, beautiful… Ohio. East Cleveland. You familiar with the city?

WARREN: I think Dante wrote about it.

LIGHTS SHIFT. WARREN is driving a rental car in East Cleveland. SAM and BARBARA are passengers.

SAM: You’re excited?

WARREN: Yes, I always wanted to come to East Cleveland. We are doing something important. Making history, you know?

BARBARA: (Surly.) Mmmmhmmmm.

SAM: Now we’re going to be moving fast on this, Warren. You’re sort of coming in the middle of things but we’re glad you could fly out here on such short notice after graduating.

WARREN: Yes, and I’m not afraid of jumping in. I’m a fast learner.

BARBARA: Mmmmhmmmm.

SAM: I know you’ll do a great job. You’ll be taking over for Phil who had to take a leave of absence.

WARREN: What happened to him?

SAM: Gee…hmmm, I think Phil just needed a breather.

BARBARA: Yes. Phil fucked up. Take this exit. We do a lot of work with black churches in the area. What kind of church do you go to?

WARREN: Actually…ahh, no. I don’t do church.

BARBARA: You don’t do church? Did your parents forget to take you?

WARREN: Oh no, they…they certainly didn’t forget to beat me over the head with the Bible. I just learned how to dodge their loving, Christian blows and find my own way. BUT I love and respect all kinds of religions.

BARBARA: So what does that mean? You’re an atheist?

SAM: You don’t have to answer that, Warren.

BARBARA: Sounds like another Phil.

WARREN: Well I promise not to fill Phil’s shoes.

The joke lands flat.

SAM: I know you’re going to do a great job. Right Barbara?

BARBARA: A lot of times we work 18 hours a day. No time off.

WARREN: I will cancel all my Brazilian wax appointments, Barbara.

BARBARA: 51%. Take a right at the light.

WARREN: What’s that?

SAM: The target we need to vote.

WARREN: Why that amount?

BARBARA: Because that’s the target. Look, we don’t have time to –

SAM: – Warren, East Cleveland is a predominantly black neighborhood so there’s no competition from the other side for voters. All we have to do is find a way to push people to the polls. If we get a large enough percentage here, then we win all of Cleveland by a landslide. If we win Cleveland by a large enough margin we can counteract Cincinnati, which is conservative. And then if we off-set Cincy, we win Ohio. And if we win Ohio, then we win…

WARREN: Everything.

SAM: Exactly. East Cleveland is the tipping point of the political universe. We take this area, we take the country.

BARBARA: And if we lose this neighborhood, then we just screwed up a lifetime of work. Years of sweat, tears, and blood…for some of us.

SAM: 51%. Right now we’re tracking at significantly below that in most Black neighborhoods. Particularly in the ward you’ll be managing. Your job will be to help bump up the early voting numbers, making sure voters have rides to and from the polls, and patrolling the streets.

BARBARA: Why did you want this job?

WARREN: It’s a great opportunity. It’s history.

BARBARA: So was Janet Jackson flashing her titty in the Super Bowl. But why did you want to be a part of this history?

WARREN: I don’t know. The same reason as everyone else: to matter.

BARBARA: You’re not understanding the question. Pull up here to this house. (WARREN pulls up and parks the car.) You’re going to be in the community. That means training the locals, knocking on doors, and working with the people. ‘Black people.’

WARREN: Great. My parents are ‘Black people.’

SAM: Funny.

BARBARA: Corny. College boy, what do you know about these people?

SAM: I know you’re going to do a g...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Character Tracks
• Act One
• Act Two