REVIEWS / PRESS

"Platanos and Collard Greens" will leave an audiences satisfied, as it dishes up common and unusual stereotypes, prejudices and practices that exist between Latinos and African-Americans. Written by David Lamb, the production is based on his book "Do Platanos Go Wit' Collard Greens?"
Ideas put forth include that one ethnic group has "good hair"; Black men are more sexually endowed than others; Latin women are hot mulatas; Dominicans view Blacks as inferior; and Black women are offended when Black men pursue Latin women. One dramatic poem performed asks the question "What's wrong with the chocolate?" The play also looks at the need for some Black men to have a light-skinned Black woman.
Lamb not only casts a bright light on these dark ideas, but he explains their historical roots, as well. None of this is given in a dull lecturing form; it is presented with passion by the different characters. The playwright presents the play as a hip-hop drama, utilizing extraordinary, moving and explosive poetry, along with rap and slang.

>"Platanos and Collard Greens" is set in the present and focuses on the relationships between some Hunter College students. Freeman (Phillip J. Smith), a very intelligent young Black man, tutors his fellow students in writing and aspires to be a lawyer. OK (Ben Rivers), his childhood friend, is a student and a tutor at the school who wants to pursue a music career. While he raps he is working on a business degree to run his own company some day. Malady (Quisha Saunders) is a strong, smart Black woman. She and Freeman are running for president and vice president, respectively, of the student council. Angelita (Lila Blake Palmer) is a Latin girl that Freeman likes. Nilsa (Sarita Covington) is Angelita's best friends and a student at Hunter College who Freeman likes.

By having stereotypes believed and mentioned by these intelligent characters, it shows that stereotypes are not just an issue with the slow and ignorant.
As Freeman (who's Black) and Angelita (a Latina) try to develop a relationship, the ethnically stereotypical thoughts they both have of each other's race come to the surface. Upon hearing the stereotypes coming from each other, though, they both shoot them down as false. However, they also have to contend with Angelita's mother, Samana (Patricia Aleman), a Dominican who believes that Blacks are beneath them and demands that Angelita stop seeing him.

Angeltia and her mother argue constantly about her relationship with Freeman. Angelita also confronts her mother on the negative things she has done to her and her sisters, including taking an iron and ironing their hair to keep it straighter, so they have "good hair".

Samana feels that Angelita's attraction to Freeman is abnormal and makes an appointment for them to see a psychologist. The psychologist turns out to be Freeman's father, Pops (played by Doni C. Comas), who also teaches at Hunter. He explains to Angelita the history of how the Dominican people came to deny their Blackness. Pops also plays an integral role in helping Freeman understand why a dark-skinned Black woman like Malady would be offended by Black men dating Latin women.

Songs that depict Latin women in a negative light, including those done by Black rappers like Biggie and Latin artists such as Santana, were mentioned and denounced.

Lamb offers a play that everyone can relate to - in the midst of attacking these stereotypes, he incorporates a lot of humor into the script. "Platanos and Collard Greens" wins on all levels: It entertains, educates and makes one evaluate the ridiculous stereotypes most of us have probably heard in our lives.
This production is powerfully directed by Alim Akbar. A Between the Lines Production, "Platanos and Collard Greens" has a vibrant musical score done by Martin "Shish" Caba and Edward "Atrane" Caba.