Mary P. Burrill
Encyclopedia
Mary P. Burrill was an early 20th century African-American female playwright and educator who also inspired Willis Richardson
and other students to write plays.
In 1901, she graduated from M Street High School (later Dunbar High School
) in Washington, D.C.. When her family moved to Boston, she attended Emerson College of Oratory (later Emerson College
), where she received a diploma in 1904.
In 1919, two of her best known plays were published. They That Sit in Darkness was published in Margaret Sanger
's progressive Birth Control Review, a monthly publication advocating reproductive rights
for women. The other play, Aftermath, was published in Liberator, edited by socialist Max Eastman
.
The story of They That Sit in Darkness focuses on the effects of having multiple children to a young mother. Despite repeated warnings from midwives for the mother to "be careful" she continues to have children with dire consequences. Sandra L. West of Virginia Commonwealth University
in a brief essay on Burrill described the work as controversial for its time because the play advocated birth control
as a means to escape poverty long before women were given reproductive rights.
Aftermath is set in rural South Carolina and involves a soldier who discovers that his father has been lynched
after he returns from fighting overseas. In was produced by New York City's Krigwa Players in 1928.
For many years, Burrill taught English, speech and drama at Dunbar High School. While there, she encouraged several of her students to write plays. One of her prized students was Willis Richardson
, who would later become the first African American dramatist to have a play produced on Broadway. Another was May Miller
, who published her first play, Pandora's Box, while still a student at Dunbar.
Upon her retirement from teaching in 1944, Burrill moved to New York City, where she died on March 13, 1946.
Willis Richardson
Willis Richardson is an American playwright.-Biography:Willis Richardson was born on November 5, 1889 in Wilmington, North Carolina, a son of Willis Wilder and Agnes Ann Richardson. His family moved to Washington, D.C...
and other students to write plays.
Biography
Mary Powell Burrill was born in August 1881 in Washington, D.C., the daughter of John H. and Clara E. Burrill.In 1901, she graduated from M Street High School (later Dunbar High School
Dunbar High School (Washington, D.C.)
Dunbar High School is a public secondary school located in Washington, D.C., United States. The school is located in the Truxton Circle neighborhood of Northwest Washington, two blocks from the intersection of New Jersey and New York Avenues...
) in Washington, D.C.. When her family moved to Boston, she attended Emerson College of Oratory (later Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
), where she received a diploma in 1904.
In 1919, two of her best known plays were published. They That Sit in Darkness was published in Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger
Margaret Higgins Sanger was an American sex educator, nurse, and birth control activist. Sanger coined the term birth control, opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, and established Planned Parenthood...
's progressive Birth Control Review, a monthly publication advocating reproductive rights
Reproductive rights
Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as follows:...
for women. The other play, Aftermath, was published in Liberator, edited by socialist Max Eastman
Max Eastman
Max Forrester Eastman was an American writer on literature, philosophy and society, a poet, and a prominent political activist. For many years, Eastman was a supporter of socialism, a leading patron of the Harlem Renaissance and an activist for a number of liberal and radical causes...
.
The story of They That Sit in Darkness focuses on the effects of having multiple children to a young mother. Despite repeated warnings from midwives for the mother to "be careful" she continues to have children with dire consequences. Sandra L. West of Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
in a brief essay on Burrill described the work as controversial for its time because the play advocated birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
as a means to escape poverty long before women were given reproductive rights.
Aftermath is set in rural South Carolina and involves a soldier who discovers that his father has been lynched
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
after he returns from fighting overseas. In was produced by New York City's Krigwa Players in 1928.
For many years, Burrill taught English, speech and drama at Dunbar High School. While there, she encouraged several of her students to write plays. One of her prized students was Willis Richardson
Willis Richardson
Willis Richardson is an American playwright.-Biography:Willis Richardson was born on November 5, 1889 in Wilmington, North Carolina, a son of Willis Wilder and Agnes Ann Richardson. His family moved to Washington, D.C...
, who would later become the first African American dramatist to have a play produced on Broadway. Another was May Miller
May Miller
May Miller was an African American poet, playwright and educator. Miller became known as the most widely published female playwright of the Harlem Renaissance, with seven published volumes of poetry during her career as a writer.-Personal life:May Miller was born in Washington, D.C. to Kelly and...
, who published her first play, Pandora's Box, while still a student at Dunbar.
Upon her retirement from teaching in 1944, Burrill moved to New York City, where she died on March 13, 1946.