James Baldwin’s powerful words, ‘History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history. If we pretend otherwise, we are literally criminals,’ embodies the themes of my first stage-play.
Dreams of My Fathers is a theatrical exploration of Barack Obama’s presidency, borrowing from the themes of past, present and future in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The title itself, a nod to Obama’s powerful memoir, “Dreams From My Father,” hints at the introspective nature of this play. We witness Obama at three pivotal moments in his presidency, navigating the complexities of leadership, legacy, and identity in dream sequences. It is an exploration of how the past shapes the present, influencing the future and how memory can haunt and illuminate us.
The story moves beyond the politics of Washington to illuminate a human story of loss, longing, and the search for self. This play aims to capture the essence of that human journey, to explore the complexities of a man who grappled with his past with the weight of history on his shoulders.
Through it all, Michelle Obama serves as his personal commander-in-chief, holding him to account as the voice of Black America. She provides sharp yet tender insights as the president comes into conflict in his dreams with his mother’s regret for time lost with her son and his fraught relationship with his estranged father.
His insecurities are challenged as next, he faces the critical perspectives from his heroes Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. against the backdrop of the 2014 Ferguson Riots. In his nightmares, he has a showdown with the future president of the United States; Donald J. Trump. This foreshadows the deep divisions still dividing America that define our world today.
We are aiming to begin production in Spring 2026 and I hope it will spark conversations about leadership, family and the legacies we leave behind. As we continue to develop ‘Dreams of My Fathers,’ feel free to share your thoughts and reflections on the themes of ‘Dreams of My Fathers’ by contacting me at rogergriffithwriter@gmail.com, follow our social media channels and sign up for our newsletter for updates and events.