50 years ago, playwright Amiri Baraka (then LeRoi Jones) captured the essence of the black/white relations of the time with "Dutchman", performed at the Cherry Lane Theatre. The play, which won an Obie Award and was turned into a film only three years later, eloquently asked the question: "In order to express myself in any endeavor, am I actually suppressing who I am?"

In celebration of the play's 50th anniversary, The National Black Theatre is re-investigating this political allegory that helped to start the Black Power Movement.  We spoke with lead actress Ambien Mitchell about rehearsal, her character Lula, and the significance of bringing "Dutchman" back to the stage.