Two plays, twenty years apart, helped describe two very important periods in African-American history. Joe Turner's Come and Gone, which premiered in 1984, and Dutchman, which premiered in 1964, help show the development of the black mentality in certain periods of history. Dutchman, written during the Black Arts period (1960-1975); helped show how African Americans constantly struggled to escape the classic stereotypes they were associated with. Joe Turner's Come and Gone, written for the contemporary period, told the story of how first-generation blacks, after signing the Emancipation Proclamation, struggled to find their identity, not only as blacks but also religiously. Dutchman was written during the black arts period, where in this particular work we are more focused on black identity, in a way as they are trying to find themselves as African Americans, women or men. More in a way they don't feel complete because of the past and current circumstances they find themselves in. And just like Dutchman, this comedy addresses some racial discrimination. Herald Loomis is taken away from his family to work for the fictional "Joe Turner" chain gang. Joe Turner serves more as an impersonation than an actual character. He represents racist white men in the South. He illegally kidnapped free and runaway slaves and put them to work at spots along the river where the work was "You people around here spreading salt everywhere... you've got pennies lined up over the threshold... all that crap. And you going to church down there and you want to go home and spread salt everywhere,” “Look at him. He found that pigeon and now he's talking to it,” “Now he took that cup. He already killed that pigeon and now he's putting his blood in that little cup let him drink that blood” (Wilson). Seth mocks Bynum, who is the only person in the entire play who is actually in touch with his identity. Seth is lost in the sense of religion, calls all the things Bynum and his wife Bertha do spirituality heebie-jeebie stuff. Seth understands everything on a very basic level and doesn't want to expand his understanding