Historical drama ‘Little Rock: 1942’ shows how
The Landmark Center in St. Paul revived its powerful production “Little Rock: 1942” on February 28 for a one-day performance. The story, co-written by Terrance C. Newby and James Lundy and directed by Chad Snyder, honors the true, compelling, and lesser-known story of heroic school teacher Susie Morris and the civil rights lawsuit that brought Thurgood Marshall to Saint Paul.
Morris, a Black teacher from Little Rock, Arkansas, sued her school district in the 1940s for equal pay, and in doing so became an integral part of the fight for civil rights in education.
This historical drama not only highlights Morris’ courageous stand against systemic inequality, but also marks an important moment in the broader Civil Rights Movement, one that deserves recognition — especially during Women’s History Month.
At the time, equal pay for Black teachers was not a common practice, and the systems in place actively worked against the advancement of African Americans in many professional fields. Morris’ case would eventually attract the attention of the NAACP and Thurgood Marshall, who would go on to play a key role in representing her in court. Morris’ story illustrates the ripple effect of women who fought for their rights and the rights of future generations.
“I’m a white man and I’m living in the early part of the 21st century,” said co-author James Lundy, “and here’s a story about a Black woman who was in the South in the 1940s… But the more I got into it, the more I felt like I was channeling Susie. And I don’t mean that as appropriation or anything like that, but I just felt like on a human level, I could kind of understand her through this exercise of writing a play.”
While the history of civil rights activism is often focused on well-known figures like Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr., this story offers a fresh perspective of the value in the underdogs — underscoring the essential role of ordinary people in driving social change.
In addition to recognizing Morris, “Little Rock: 1942” also honors the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder’s involvement during the civil rights era when the publication was split into two separate publications, the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder. Former St. Paul Recorder reporter Rev. Clarence T.R. Nelson, who passed away in 1977, was among the first to document the case, and his coverage helped ensure that this critical chapter in civil rights history was not forgotten.
“I didn’t know that Susie Morris’ efforts to address equal pay for teachers was a direct connection to Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP in breaking down ‘separate but equal,” said Landmark Center Executive Director Amy Mino. “I mean, who knew that?… We all know about Brown v. Board of Education, but we don’t know what led up to that.”
As the production draws from the historical research conducted by Mino and her team, it also honors the importance of local journalism in preserving the legacy of ordinary people who became part of the larger fight for equality.
The Landmark Center’s production of “Little Rock: 1942” is a collaboration that brings together historians, legal professionals, artists and actors. Although their roots are typically, as lawyer and cast member Dennis Gerhardstein says, “Doing plays about bootlegging in the 1930s and 19-teens,” reviving “Little Rock: 1942,” is not just sharing an important piece of history; but creating an opportunity for younger generations to engage with the ongoing relevance of civil rights and the legal system.
As Newby points out, “Civil rights doesn’t happen without everyday regular people taking big risks.” Morris’ story is a powerful reminder of how one person, especially a woman in a time of pervasive inequality, can help change the course of history.
While the live performance has passed, there is a video version provided by Saint Paul’s SPNN of “Little Rock: 1942” on Youtube.
For more information, visit landmarkcenter.org.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.