Black Theater. These words have a feeling to them. When you see them, you feel good. Black Theater. These words have a meaning. These words have a power. And not everyone is glad to see them. There are some in our society who feel threatened by them. Powerful segments of our society who feel threatened by the meaning these words have. Black Theater is Black America's imagination on display. Black America's intelligence on display. Black America's humanity on display. The field of manners and rituals of intercourse that Baldwin speaks of . . . on display. It is on this field that we have matured; it is on this field that we have come into our own. As survivors of a most difficult and profound history and experience that has altered and continues to alter the muscle of our hearts with its share of grief and love and loss and triumph. We are attendants to that history. We serve it because it is ours.