The book traces the history of African American theatre from its beginnings to the present. It analyses the types of plays written for this theatre, identifies the perennial problems faced by theatre artists and producing companies, and makes bold, innovative proposals for the theatre's healthy survival. The book draws on a considerable body of information that is carefully assembled in a lively accessible language. Professor Hay suggests that this theatre has been not only the cultural repository for African American life and history but also the forum where important ideas and aspirations of a people have been advanced and argued. The book presents a coherent and detailed scrutiny of the major stages of the development of African American theatre.