This volume investigates the evolution and continuity of African-American performance traditions during the period spanning the post-Black Arts Movement and the pre-New Black Renaissance. Annemarie Bean compiles a comprehensive collection of primary source materials to document the shifting aesthetic and political priorities of Black performers. By framing these works within their specific socio-political contexts, the text argues that performance serves as a critical site for identity formation and cultural resistance throughout the late twentieth century.

Scholars and theater historians frequently cite this work as a foundational reference for understanding the often-overlooked performance history of the late twentieth century. The text is noted for its academic rigor and its ability to synthesize diverse primary sources into a coherent historical narrative.