Goat Alley: A Tragedy of Negro Life

"Goat Alley: A Tragedy of Negro Life" by Ernest Howard Culbertson is a play set in the early 1900s that paints a vivid portrait of Lucy Belle Dorsey as she grapples with poverty and societal pressures in a Washington, D.C., slum. Lucy Belle struggles to protect her spirit against the backdrop of infidelity, abuse, and the simple longing for love amid oppressive conditions. The story shows Lucy's struggle to build a future with her partner, Sam, as the menacing shadow of her past, in the form of Jeff Bisbee, constantly threatens her. Her interactions with her Aunt Rebecca highlight her determination to find peace and safety, even as the grim realities of African American lives during this era threaten to overwhelm her. The play's beginning lays bare Lucy's situation, highlighting her battle with the forces around her, which sets the stage for a narrative of tragedy touched by hope in the face of adversity.