Garland Anderson's 'Appearances' Opens on Broadway—First Black Playwright

In 1925, Garland Anderson became the first Black playwright to have a full-length drama produced on Broadway when 'Appearances' opened at the Frolic Theatre. Anderson had written the play while working as a bellhop and personally lobbied President Coolidge for support. The achievement opened doors for subsequent Black playwrights and demonstrated that Black dramatic writing could reach mainstream American stages.