Playwright Portrait, Thomas Bradshaw, Excerpt from Cleansed

The Playwright Thomas Bradshaw 2008
copyright Peter Bellamy 2010

Excerpt from Cleansed


Grandmother: Yes. Your mother should never have married that nigger. It’s been nothing but problems since she met him. When you were a child she came crying to me about the fact that kids were making fun of you. What did she expect? Everyone could see that coming a mile away. But what really upset me was the fact that she had the nerve to blame it on your classmates and their families! She called them ignorant and racist! I have lived in this town for forty-six years and I can assure you that the people in this community are neither ignorant or racist! They’re just good Christians. And all good Christians know that the mixing of races is a sin. Your mother and father are the ignorant ones.

Lauraul: Do you think that I’m a sin?

Grandmother: Goes and Hugs Lauraul
Oh no honey. Your parent’s sins are not your fault. I’m just sorry that they didn’t consider your feelings before they had you. It’s not fair that you’ve been treated this way all these years. And it makes me love you even more to know that you’re rejecting the culture and the blood that your father infected you with.

Lauraul: Thank you Grandma. I’m so glad that someone understands.

Grandmother: But you know that you must fight hard everyday to resist your tainted blood. It’s very powerful, and can sneak up on you when you least expect it. So I’m giving you something to help you to resist it.