A Senator's Pain
Most Californians know exactly what they were doing when the historical were read that
acquitted the four LAPD officers, and sparked the civil unrest in Los Angeles. Anna
Deavere Smith does an excellent job representing Los Angeles citizens in her theatrical
piece entitled Twilight: Los Angeles 1992. Smith writes, "Every person I include in the
book, and who I perform, has a presence that is much more important than the information
they give" (Smith: xxiv). In this statement Smith tells the reader that the facts each
character gives is not as important as his her presence, because anyone can give facts
about an event. Smith wants the reader to pay close attention to the feelings expressed
by each individual she interviewed, because feelings tell more about a person and an
event than the facts. In Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 the monologue by Bill Bradley
entitled "Application of the Law" contributes more to Smith's piece than does the
monologue by Elaine Brown entitled "Ask Saddam Hussein," because when a Senator notices
the reality of racism it seems authentic. Although both Bradley and Brown give similar
information it is ironic that a white Senator showed more anger toward racism than the
former Black Panther.
When Senator Bradley begins telling his story his he points out how our society still
has inequalities as he says, "I mean, you know, it's still... There are people who are,
uh, who the law threats in different ways" (Smith: 214). The following statements
Bradley makes during his interview shows his anger for racial differences. When Bradley
informs the reader about an African-American Harvard Law School student who experienced
unjust treatment by the police. Bradley's anger is expressed through his statement, as
he says, "He pulls over. Police car pulls in front...behind...beside of him. Police
jump out, guns, pull him out of the car, throw him to the floor, put a handcuff on
him...All the while pointing a gun out at him" (Smith: 215). It is not fair that this
African-American Law School student has to put up with racism just because his skin color
and the "well-to-do" neighborhood he was driving through. Bradley's anger shows the
reader that racism should not exist because our Constitution says, "all men are created
equal." Bradley is an important character to Smith's theatrical piece because he is a
white Senator who can help influence decision making. Bradley lets the reader know that
he is doing all he can to make the "theory" of equality a reality for all races.
Unlike Senator Bradley, Elain Brown's reality was growing up as a black woman in an
"unequal" society. In Brown's interview she tries to convince young brothers to pick up
the books instead of the guns. Brown a former Black Panther leader shows a personal
sympathy for Jonathan Jackson, as she says, "I think that this idea of picking up the gun
and going into the street without a plan and without any more rhyme or reason than rage
is bizarre and so, uh...And it's foolish" (Smith: 228). Brown's contribution to Smith's
theatrical piece is limited because she does not show the authentic anger like Senator
Bradley.
Even though both Senator Bill Bradley and former Black Panther leader Elaine Brown gave
similar messages, their presence affects the reader in a different way. After reading
Bradley's monologue, I felt elated and anger. When Bradley questioned the partner at the
law firm as he ask, "What did the partner of the law firm do on Monday? Did the partner
call the police commissioner?" (Smith: 216). When Bradley begins asking question he lets
the reader know that he is also bother by racism.
Yet in Brown's monologue racism is not the problem. Brown wants to convince the reader
that guns are not worth his or her life. Brown tells the reader, "all one has to do is
ask, to ask the Vietnamese or Saddam Hussein about the power...of the United States" and
how they take down threats (Smith: 228). Brown wants young brothers to realizes how
important their lives are to our society.
In Twilight: Los Angeles 1992 when Anna Deavere Smith says, "Every person I include in
the book, and who I perform, has a presence that is much more important than the
information," Bill Bradley and Elaine Brown are just a few of the characters Smith is
describing. Bill Bradley was a white Senator who people might have thought would have
agreed with the actions of the LAPD but ironically he was angry. Senator Bradley's
monologue contributes more to Smith's theatrical piece because of this irony. I wonder
what our world would like if we had more Senator's like Bill Bradley?
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