Glossary
This glossary includes helpful vocabulary and references that will deepen your understanding of Big White Fog. This glossary was adapted by Court Theatre Education staff from the work of Production Dramaturg Khalid Long, PhD.
| WORD/PHRASE | DEFINITION |
|---|---|
| African Legionnaires | (n) Members of the military branch of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) called The African Legion; the primary goal of this branch was to train young Black men as soldiers to eventually liberate Africa |
| Agrarian Cooperative Economy | (n) A system where independent farmers come together to form collective businesses, or “cooperatives,” to accomplish shared economic goals |
| Bellstand | (n) A hotel employee responsible for loading and unloading guest luggage In Big White Fog, Percy is a bellstand |
| Black Star Line | (n) The steamship company operated by Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association from 1919 to 1922; it was established to promote worldwide commerce among black communities, and was a key part of Garvey’s Back-to-Africa movement Garvey took the name from the British shipping line called the White Star Line |
| Bolshevik | (n) A radical faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party led by Vladimir Lenin; their ideologies led to the creation of the Soviet Union |
| Breadline | (n) A line of people waiting to receive free food due to poverty, particularly during the Great Depression (1929-1939) |
| Bunk | (n) Slang used to refer to something that is nonsense or untrue |
| Butler/Butler’s Black Pride | (n) A university founded in 1855; Butler has a rich history rooted in a commitment to non-sectarian education and social justice Originally named North Western Christian University, it was founded by abolitionists, including Ovid Butler, who aimed to create an institution free from the “pernicious influences of slavery”; the university was also a pioneer in admitting women and people of color from its inception |
| Carbolic | (n) A soap invented by British surgeon Joseph Lister to reduce the chance of infection during surgery; he had begun experimenting with carbolic acid in 1865 after hearing it was used to treat sewage |
| Chicago Defender | (n) The most widely-read Black newspaper; it was founded in 1905 and especially popular from 1919 through the 1960s |
| “….East St. Louis, Tulsa, Washington” | (n) Referring to significant violent attacks against Black people that occurred in each of these towns: The East St. Louis Race Riot of 1917, The Tulsa Massacre of 1921, The Washington Race Riot of 1919 |
| Garvey Uniforms | (n) Referring to a military-style uniform, complete with medals and a feathered hat, that Marcus Garvey often wore; members of the African Legion wore military uniforms |
| Highballs | (n) A mixed alcoholic drink made with a single spirit and a non-alcoholic mixer; classic examples include a Gin and Tonic, Rum and Coke, and a screwdriver (vodka and orange juice) |
| Hod | (n) An open box attached to a long pole handle; bricks or mortar are carried on the shoulder In Big White Fog, Vic works as a hod-carrier at a construction site |
| Impudence | (n) Arrogant boldness that is disrespectful and rude |
| Lenin | (n) The first leader of Russia’s Soviet Union, who established the world’s first socialist state |
| Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy | (n) A 1888 utopian time travel science fiction novel by American journalist and writer Edward Bellamy; the book envisions an optimistic form of national socialism |
| Notoriety | (n) The state of being famous or well known for some bad quality or deed |
| Pauper’s Grave | (n) A common burial plot for people who were too poor to afford a private funeral; also for the dead that were unknown or unclaimed |
| Pullman Car | (n) A luxury railroad car operated by the Pullman Company. Black men worked as Pullman Porters and were responsible for tasks like carrying baggage, setting up and cleaning sleeping berths, shining shoes, and serving passengers; this job was an economically advantageous position for Black men In Big White Fog, Dan is a Pullman Porter |
| Sealskin | (n) A high-end material for a coat; this would have been very expensive in the early 20th century |
| Sheeny | (n) A derogatory word for a Jewish person |
| Shiftless | (Adj) Characterized by laziness and a lack of ambition |
| Snort | (n) A quick drink of liquor, a shot |
| Socialism | (n) A political and economic system where the means of production are owned and controlled, either directly by the state or collectively, with the goal of promoting social equality and public welfare It contrasts with capitalism, where private individuals or corporations own the means of production and operate for profit |
| Spade | (n) A derogatory word for a Black person |
| Tuskegee | (n) A private, historically Black land grant university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, and founded in 1881 |
| UNIA | (n) The Universal Negro Improvement Association; a Black nationalist fraternal organization founded by Marcus Garvey that emphasized racial unity of African-Americans, and the need to return to Africa to redeem it from White rule |
| Victrola | (n) An early type of record player that was wound with a crank |
| West Indies | (n) The West Indies is a term used to describe the colonial holdings of the British, Spanish, Dutch, French, and Danish in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean from the 16th to 20th centuries The West Indies is now generally referred to as the Caribbean, and individual island nations and territories are referred to by their individual names |
| “…when he came home from France“ | Refers to the racist treatment that Percy received when he returned to the US from World War I |