The Verbiage of Ragtime

There are many times that I forget that I am the mother of young children.  My kids interact with adults more than other kids, and as they spend more and more time in a theater, they are exposed to more and more adult concepts and attitudes.  That doesn't both me, and we've had plenty of conversations about the responsibilities that they have as child performers working with older people. 

For example, when we started working on Ragtime, I explained to them that they’ll be working with college students who aren't used to being around younger children, and often they’ll use colorful language that they might not hear at their regular theater studio.

Sydney’s response, “That’s ok, Mom.  We live with you.”

Hmmmm…….

I also forget that at their ages, they haven’t been exposed to the historical significance of the stories in Ragtime.  We are a very liberal family, and our friend and family base is comprised of people of all socio-economic brackets, religions, races, sexual orientations, and whatever else.  It’s never been an issue, it just is what it is.  So, imagine my surprise at the following conversation in the car on the way home from rehearsal one evening:

Me: How did rehearsal go?

Sydney: Good

Dylan: Good.  I was hanging out with the funny Negro guy.

Me: (trying not to drive off the road): WHAT??!!??

Dylan: you know, the funny Negro guy who always makes the jokes.

Me: Ok, let’s talk about this….

Because of the verbiage in the script, the African-American/black characters are referred to as “Negro” since this takes place in 1906.  Since Dylan had never heard this word, and it is thrown around very nonchalantly, imagine his surprise to learn that we don’t use that word, he can’t use that word outside the walls of the theater for this particular show, and that it’s considered a bad word today.

He was so confused.  Then, he got really upset because he didn't want the “funny Negro guy” to think he was being rude.

I assured him that it would be ok.  I guess I should have pre-taught this one a little better.  I’m just glad we caught this one before I got a call from school, or Dylan got a black eye.