Harlem Duet

He and She, actors in 1928 Harlem, are in a dressing room. Blues music infuses the surroundings as Martin Luther King Jr.’s voice delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech from the 1963 March on Washington. He is shaving with a straight-edged razor as She stands nearby, holding a white handkerchief with strawberry markings. She asks if He recalls when he gave her the handkerchief, and she speaks romantically of how He pledged his eternal love to her. She also mentions the importance of Harlem: “Harlem’s the place to be now. Everyone who’s anyone is coming here now. It’s our time. In our place. It’s what we’ve always dreamed o […] sn’t it?” (21). She then begins to ask if He is in love with another woman: “Have you sung to her at twilight? Do you finger feed her berries dipped in dark and luscious sweets?” (22). Finally, She asks Him if the object of his affection is white. The answer is a simple “She’s White” (23), after which She drops the handkerchief near His feet. He ignores it. After a moment, He picks it up.