Origins Black Theater in America- The Frogs

The Frogs

While reading an awesome book called The First Black Actors on the Great White Way by Susan Curtis, I learned about the history of a theater organization called The Frogs. Named after the play (of the same name) by Aristophanes, The Frogs began with George Walker, J. Rosamond Johnson, Jesse Shipp, Bob Cole, and Alex Rogers in the summer of 1908. They were the first group of Black Theater Artists to incorporate as a non profit organization in the United States!

The Frogs, 1908

Their first attempt to incorporate was denied by a judge. The Judge refused their case because he did not see the relationship between theater and The Frogs. (I can't help but to wonder did he even read their case?)  The judge's decision appeared in the newspapers, and many white theater artists, and Lester Walton, a Black theater critic, took up their cause. It took months, but The Frogs finally won an appeal, and their group became incorporated in August 1908.

The group began with theater writers, composers, actors, and musicians. But it became a leading social organization for Black New Yorkers who wanted to educate themselves, and enrich their community with the performing arts. They raised money for charities, and held some of the most popular social events in Harlem, called the 'Frolic of the Frogs'.

 Nearly a hundred years later, we take so many of our accomplishments for granted. It is extremely humbling to know that more than one hundred years ago, Black New Yorkers were taking measured steps to ensure the Black artist's representation in the performing arts would be professional and demonstrate excellence.

Be resilient and Never give up!

George Walker

Ponya

The Frogs on wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frogs_(club)

The Frogs, Exhibition at the Schomburg
http://www2.si.umich.edu/chico/Harlem/text/frogs.html

A more detailed view of the organization
http://jass.com/frogs2.html