Skit: "The Story of Dusty"
Like “Begot’s Ice Cream Shop” and “The Bill Collector,” “The Story of Dusty” was performed as part of “Out Da Box.” However, it was performed the following year, my Senior year. In fact, it was the only skit I submitted that ended up being performed. Another skit, “Kidz Jamz,” was cut for time.
Now, in order for you to truly understand this skit, I have to explain a couple of things. The main character, Dusty, shares his name with a term for a certain type of African-American. The term “dusty” basically describes an African-American person who is completely out of touch with the black community. Not only is the person out of touch with the community, but he/she doesn’t even attempt to be a part of it. He/she won’t have any black friends or associates. This person won’t go to any black events and basically acts like a white person (one who isn't open-minded). That’s my personal definition of the term. The term was circulated heavily among the black community at my college, Northwestern University, which is predominantly white. The term originated with a black student (who I knew) and ended up becoming part of the vernacular at the school.
My skit basically tells the story of a dusty named...Dusty. It has thinly veiled references to aspects of life as a black student at Northwestern. The Office of Minority Affairs in the skit is code for the Office of African-American Student Affairs (a.k.a. “The Black House”). In writing the skit, I kind of drew from both what I thought a dusty was as well as my own experiences. Although I stayed active in the black community at the school, most of the closest friends I made there are white. Also, like Dusty, I too had a white roommate when I first arrived at college.
Ultimately, the skit isn’t meant to be disrespectful towards African-Americans who don’t act “black.” The skit is meant to make those African-Americans who shun the black community think twice before doing so. You can’t help how you’re raised, but you can do your best to expand your horizons. African-Americans are not a monolithic group. Many of us may share common beliefs, but we are a diverse group of people. I am proud to be an African-American and I think every other African-American should be too.
One last footnote: “SA-dub” refers to S.A.W., the Summer Academic Workshop. It’s held at NU every summer for black and Latino students and helps them adjust to college life with classes and other activities.
Now, here’s “The Story of Dusty.”
The Story of Dusty
Characters
Narrator: M/F
Dusty: M
Tom: M
David: M
James: M
Shatisha: F
Narrator: Now boys and girls, it’s time for a story...The Story of Dusty. Dusty, a young African-American male, eagerly awaits his first year at a prominent predominantly white university.
Dusty (to audience): College is going to be great! Lots of new people to meet! Lots of clubs to join! I can’t wait!
Narrator: Yep, he sure couldn’t. The days passed and it was finally time for Dusty to go to college. His parents drove him to his dorm and after a few days, Dusty got settled in with his white roommate, Tom.
Dusty: Hey Tom, is it cool if we hang out?
Tom: Sure Dusty, no problem. We’re heading to a frat party, want to come?
Dusty: Yep, let’s go!
(Dusty and Tom head offstage)
Narrator: For the first few weeks of school, Dusty was content. His classes were tough, but nothing he couldn’t handle. He and Tom and Tom’s friends hung out every weekend, and he found tons of attractive white girls to date. However, whenever he passed by other African-Americans they did strange things.
(Dusty and David are walking towards each other from opposite sides of the stage)
David: Hey, what’s up brotha?
(Dusty looks away and slowly ducks as he passes by David. David turns around and looks at Dusty funny as he leaves the stage.)
Dusty: What the hell was his problem? He doesn’t know me!
Narrator: The next day, Dusty received a letter about a get together for African-American students at the Office of Minority Affairs. He decided to go and see what was going on.
(Opens up with Dusty on stage and other black people around him talking)
Narrator: Dusty came to the social and saw there were many more African-American students at the school than he realized. He didn’t recognize most of them. He decided to mingle and listen to the conversations the other students were having. Dusty walked over to one group and decided to watch and listen.
David: How’d you do on your paper?
James: Man, I got beasted on it.
David: What you get?
James: A “C.”
David: Damn, that is some sussness right there. That prof must hate you, dog.
(Girl walks over)
Shatisha: Hey!
David: Hey girl, how you doin? (hugs Shatisha)
Shatisha: I’m alright.
(Shatisha hugs James)
James: How your classes goin?
Shatisha: They’re a beast! After S.A.-dub, I didn’t think the classes would be this hard!
David: So, you gonna pledge?
Shatisha: I don’t know...I was thinking of becoming a sweetheart, but a lot of my friends are Deltas.
Narrator: Dusty stood listening to the conversation and was very confused.
Dusty (voice-over): Beast? Sussness? SA-dub? What do those words mean? I’ve never heard of them before. Is SA-dub some type of audio project?
James: Hey! (taps Dusty) Hey Dog, what’s up? I ain’t seen you before. What’s your name?
Dusty: Dusty?
James: Dusty, aww ok. Nice to meet you.
David: Hey, uh, Dusty...that’s yo name right? What’s with your clothes?
Dusty: What? What’s wrong with them?
David: You look like you stepped out of The Catcher in The Rye, man.
Shatisha: Leave him alone! Dusty, where are you from?
Dusty: New Hampshire.
David: See? He a blueblood and shit!
James: Man, shut up. Seriously, we gonna go get some food, but it was nice talking to you.
Shatisha: See you around, Dusty.
Narrator: Dusty was so embarrassed by the comments from the one guy that he left the social without talking to another soul. (pause as Dusty leaves) Dusty went home and cried, as people like Dusty do, and made a surprising decision.
Dusty: I’m not dealing with black people on this campus anymore! They expect me to be just like them, but I’m not! They didn’t even give me a chance! Well, they won’t embarrass Dusty Jenkins again! I’m never going back to the Office of Minority Affairs! I have my white and Indian friends and they do just fine!
Narrator: Hence, Dusty avoided contact with all black students. He never took an African-American Studies course. He never took a US History course that covered slavery or the Civil Rights Movement. He never said hello to any black person, even if he knew them.
(Dusty and James are walking from opposite directions)
James: Hey, what’s up Dusty?
(Dusty walks by quickly and ducks down a bit)
James: Hey, yo, Dusty! Dusty! What’s up, man! Hey, forget you then! (walks offstage)
Narrator: Dusty went through the rest of his college career only associating with his family and not with black people on the campus. However, word spread among the African-American community about Dusty.
Shatisha: Yeah, I know about Dusty. He walked right past me without even smiling or saying hello even though I was in the same class as him. But when I turned around, I saw him looking at my booty. What a bastard!
David: I’ve seen Dusty around campus. He’s the only dark face in whatever group of friends he’s with. No one’s ever seen him with a black person at all. What, he don’t realize he black or somethin?
Narrator: After four years, Dusty graduated from the predominantly white university. He went to grad school somewhere in the Northeast, and quietly faded into the real world. No one knows what happened to Dusty, or if Dusty was in fact his real name. He could be anywhere from the President’s cabinet to the Supreme Court. Him and people just like him are everywhere, disavowing their heritage and being puppets for various groups. They have lost all connection to the African-American community while supposedly representing them. So, boys and girls, as we conclude our story, there is one valuable lesson to be learned. When you go to your prestigious universities and top-flight jobs, don’t forget who you are and remember...don’t be a Dusty.
(END SKETCH)
Now, in order for you to truly understand this skit, I have to explain a couple of things. The main character, Dusty, shares his name with a term for a certain type of African-American. The term “dusty” basically describes an African-American person who is completely out of touch with the black community. Not only is the person out of touch with the community, but he/she doesn’t even attempt to be a part of it. He/she won’t have any black friends or associates. This person won’t go to any black events and basically acts like a white person (one who isn't open-minded). That’s my personal definition of the term. The term was circulated heavily among the black community at my college, Northwestern University, which is predominantly white. The term originated with a black student (who I knew) and ended up becoming part of the vernacular at the school.
My skit basically tells the story of a dusty named...Dusty. It has thinly veiled references to aspects of life as a black student at Northwestern. The Office of Minority Affairs in the skit is code for the Office of African-American Student Affairs (a.k.a. “The Black House”). In writing the skit, I kind of drew from both what I thought a dusty was as well as my own experiences. Although I stayed active in the black community at the school, most of the closest friends I made there are white. Also, like Dusty, I too had a white roommate when I first arrived at college.
Ultimately, the skit isn’t meant to be disrespectful towards African-Americans who don’t act “black.” The skit is meant to make those African-Americans who shun the black community think twice before doing so. You can’t help how you’re raised, but you can do your best to expand your horizons. African-Americans are not a monolithic group. Many of us may share common beliefs, but we are a diverse group of people. I am proud to be an African-American and I think every other African-American should be too.
One last footnote: “SA-dub” refers to S.A.W., the Summer Academic Workshop. It’s held at NU every summer for black and Latino students and helps them adjust to college life with classes and other activities.
Now, here’s “The Story of Dusty.”
The Story of Dusty
Characters
Narrator: M/F
Dusty: M
Tom: M
David: M
James: M
Shatisha: F
Narrator: Now boys and girls, it’s time for a story...The Story of Dusty. Dusty, a young African-American male, eagerly awaits his first year at a prominent predominantly white university.
Dusty (to audience): College is going to be great! Lots of new people to meet! Lots of clubs to join! I can’t wait!
Narrator: Yep, he sure couldn’t. The days passed and it was finally time for Dusty to go to college. His parents drove him to his dorm and after a few days, Dusty got settled in with his white roommate, Tom.
Dusty: Hey Tom, is it cool if we hang out?
Tom: Sure Dusty, no problem. We’re heading to a frat party, want to come?
Dusty: Yep, let’s go!
(Dusty and Tom head offstage)
Narrator: For the first few weeks of school, Dusty was content. His classes were tough, but nothing he couldn’t handle. He and Tom and Tom’s friends hung out every weekend, and he found tons of attractive white girls to date. However, whenever he passed by other African-Americans they did strange things.
(Dusty and David are walking towards each other from opposite sides of the stage)
David: Hey, what’s up brotha?
(Dusty looks away and slowly ducks as he passes by David. David turns around and looks at Dusty funny as he leaves the stage.)
Dusty: What the hell was his problem? He doesn’t know me!
Narrator: The next day, Dusty received a letter about a get together for African-American students at the Office of Minority Affairs. He decided to go and see what was going on.
(Opens up with Dusty on stage and other black people around him talking)
Narrator: Dusty came to the social and saw there were many more African-American students at the school than he realized. He didn’t recognize most of them. He decided to mingle and listen to the conversations the other students were having. Dusty walked over to one group and decided to watch and listen.
David: How’d you do on your paper?
James: Man, I got beasted on it.
David: What you get?
James: A “C.”
David: Damn, that is some sussness right there. That prof must hate you, dog.
(Girl walks over)
Shatisha: Hey!
David: Hey girl, how you doin? (hugs Shatisha)
Shatisha: I’m alright.
(Shatisha hugs James)
James: How your classes goin?
Shatisha: They’re a beast! After S.A.-dub, I didn’t think the classes would be this hard!
David: So, you gonna pledge?
Shatisha: I don’t know...I was thinking of becoming a sweetheart, but a lot of my friends are Deltas.
Narrator: Dusty stood listening to the conversation and was very confused.
Dusty (voice-over): Beast? Sussness? SA-dub? What do those words mean? I’ve never heard of them before. Is SA-dub some type of audio project?
James: Hey! (taps Dusty) Hey Dog, what’s up? I ain’t seen you before. What’s your name?
Dusty: Dusty?
James: Dusty, aww ok. Nice to meet you.
David: Hey, uh, Dusty...that’s yo name right? What’s with your clothes?
Dusty: What? What’s wrong with them?
David: You look like you stepped out of The Catcher in The Rye, man.
Shatisha: Leave him alone! Dusty, where are you from?
Dusty: New Hampshire.
David: See? He a blueblood and shit!
James: Man, shut up. Seriously, we gonna go get some food, but it was nice talking to you.
Shatisha: See you around, Dusty.
Narrator: Dusty was so embarrassed by the comments from the one guy that he left the social without talking to another soul. (pause as Dusty leaves) Dusty went home and cried, as people like Dusty do, and made a surprising decision.
Dusty: I’m not dealing with black people on this campus anymore! They expect me to be just like them, but I’m not! They didn’t even give me a chance! Well, they won’t embarrass Dusty Jenkins again! I’m never going back to the Office of Minority Affairs! I have my white and Indian friends and they do just fine!
Narrator: Hence, Dusty avoided contact with all black students. He never took an African-American Studies course. He never took a US History course that covered slavery or the Civil Rights Movement. He never said hello to any black person, even if he knew them.
(Dusty and James are walking from opposite directions)
James: Hey, what’s up Dusty?
(Dusty walks by quickly and ducks down a bit)
James: Hey, yo, Dusty! Dusty! What’s up, man! Hey, forget you then! (walks offstage)
Narrator: Dusty went through the rest of his college career only associating with his family and not with black people on the campus. However, word spread among the African-American community about Dusty.
Shatisha: Yeah, I know about Dusty. He walked right past me without even smiling or saying hello even though I was in the same class as him. But when I turned around, I saw him looking at my booty. What a bastard!
David: I’ve seen Dusty around campus. He’s the only dark face in whatever group of friends he’s with. No one’s ever seen him with a black person at all. What, he don’t realize he black or somethin?
Narrator: After four years, Dusty graduated from the predominantly white university. He went to grad school somewhere in the Northeast, and quietly faded into the real world. No one knows what happened to Dusty, or if Dusty was in fact his real name. He could be anywhere from the President’s cabinet to the Supreme Court. Him and people just like him are everywhere, disavowing their heritage and being puppets for various groups. They have lost all connection to the African-American community while supposedly representing them. So, boys and girls, as we conclude our story, there is one valuable lesson to be learned. When you go to your prestigious universities and top-flight jobs, don’t forget who you are and remember...don’t be a Dusty.
(END SKETCH)
posted by Sterfish at 6:29 AM
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