From Mary Watkins’ “Dark River” (Act 2, Scene 11)
Fannie Lou Hamer
In this scene Fannie Lou Hamer (sung by Raina Simon Parks) has just returned home from the Democratic Convention in Atlantic City where she made her “I Question America” speech.
Her husband, Pap (sung by Joe Parks), is not home, but a neighbor is there with Fannie’s daughter, Vergie. Pap has rushed their other daughter, Dorothy, to the hospital and Fannie is trying to decide what to do. Suddenly, Pap enters, staring straight ahead as if in shock.
Listen to We Lost Dorothy (Fannie Lou: Raina Simon Parks; Pap: Joe Parks)
Note: MP3 audio file may take a moment to start.
Music and lyrics ©2009, Mary Watkins, All Rights Reserved, BMI
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”
FANNIE LOU (anxiously):
Pap, where is Dorothy?
PAP:
Fannie, oh Fannie
We done lost Dorothy!!
FANNIE LOU:
Oh no! Not Dorothy!!
PAP
She’s gone!!
She’s dead
FANNIE LOU:
No not our Dorothy!
PAP:
I took her to the nearest hospital–
FANNIE LOU:
What happened?
PAP
and they refused us
Cause we black.
I drove her fast as I could
over to the next town
FANNIE LOU:
Oh no!
PAP:
but she was dead!
Before I could get her there
she was gone
FANNIE LOU:
Oh no, not again!!
They let my child die!!
First they take my ovaries from me
So that I can’t bear my own children
Then they take my Dorothy
condemned to death
PAP AND FANNIE LOU
because of her race.
If they ain’t shooting or hanging one of us, then we’re left dying for lack of medical treatment.
FANNIE LOU:
Oh Lord, When will this evil stop?
PAP EMBRACES FANNIE AND THEY CLING TO ONE ANOTHER IN SHOCK AND GRIEF.
PAP:
Fannie, oh Fannie my sweet Fannie
FANNIE LOU:
Hold me close, Pap
PAP:
What have they done to you.
Fannie, I’m so sorry I tried to stop you
FANNIE LOU:
I know, I know.
PAP:
Now I understand
FANNIE LOU:
Just hold me.
PAP:
Don’t worry, my darling
We’re in this together, and
I’ll always be here for you.
Music and lyrics ©2009, Mary Watkins, All Rights Reserved, BMI