Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

August Wilson’s electrifying drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, set in Chicago during the Harlem Renaissance period, explores the blues, what it means to be an artist, and race relations in America.

The play’s epic voice speaks eloquently about the nature of our culture, the struggles of artists and how different generations have perceived the opportunities available to them: opportunities which reflected changes in the society with regard to power dynamics and race.