Harlem Duet

A blues improvisation of “Mama’s Little Baby” plays under the recitation of the iconic Langston Hughes poem, “Harlem.” In the psychiatric ward of a Harlem hospital, Amah and Billie are singing, dancing, and laughing together. Billie tells Amah that she is surprised by how few black doctors are working there, although most of the nurses are black. She then shares a dream she had about her doctor, Lucinda. She was asking Lucinda a question, but the doctor could not answer because her eyes were flashing a blue light. When she told the doctor about the dream, she had no explanation for it. Amah tells Billie that there is something in her that wants to heal, but that sometimes people create their own shackles. She suggests that Billie embrace forgiveness for her own recovery. Billie is trying but is not entirely there yet: “I just…I—I despise—I know…I know…Moment by moment. I forgive him now. I hate—I love him so—I forgive him now. And now. And I forgive him now” (116).

As Amah prepares to leave, Billie tells her to tell Jenny that she is singing and dancing again, and she will see her soon. As Amah exits,

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