New Play Honors Legacy of Septima Clark

Posted By Bill Payer on Mar 3, 2023 | 0 comments


The March 1 edition of the Charleston City Paper has an interesting story about a new play honoring the legacy of Septima Clark…one of three women we’ll highlight in the March 21 DIHS program.

Septima is a new play by Patricia Williams Dockery offering an inside look at Charleston native and civil rights icon Septima P. Clark’s legendary life. Septima premieres at PURE Theatre on March 9.

“Dockery, an author and playwright now based in Baltimore, previously held the role of executive director at the Avery Institute for African American History and Culture at the College of Charleston from 2010 to 2019 where she was approached by the Charleston League of Women Voters to write a play about Clark, who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to establish citizenship schools across the South to register Black voters during the civil rights movement. The League of Women Voters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization founded in 1920 which works to expand and protect voting rights.

“Having worked at the Avery, I really learned all about Septima Clark. So when they asked me to do it, I was doubled over in honor,” Dockery said. 

The play covers Clark’s entire life, Dockery said, and illustrates her unassailable spirit as she rose through adversity and overcame personal tragedy to make a lasting impact on the civil rights movement, especially voting rights and education.”

New York City-based actor Kimberlee Monroe will protray activist Septima P. Clark in Septima, a new play that honors Clark’s legacy and influence. | Photo provided

To read the entire City Paper article by Tiara Sollis CLICK HERE.

And from Holycitysinner.com, “PURE Theatre and the League of Women Voters Charleston Area will be hosting events throughout the duration of “Septima,” running March 9th to April 1st. The production follows the life of Charleston native Septima Clark.CLICK HERE to read more.

And, as stated above Septima Clark is one of three groundbreaking local women that Beth Bush and Lee Ann Bain will highlight in DIHS’ March 21 program “Girl Power: Celebrating Charleston Women in History”, For more details on our program that night CLICK HERE.

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