"A KILLING IN CHOCTAW"
Performed by: Carl Ray
Directed by: Ann Johnson

  Killing In Choctaw" is a one-man, two-act play written and performed by Carl Ray. The play is about his life growing up in Alabama. In 1962, while being questioned by a white man, Carl responded by saying "yes" and "no," instead of "yes sir" and "no sir," which was the customary response when addressing white people. Carl was severely beaten for being disrespectful. An hour later, that man went to Carl's home and shot his Father eight times as Carl looked on.

The play deals with the years following the tragedy, beginning with the trial, in which Carl was blamed for his Father's death because he did not know how to respect whites. It was suggested to the court that Carl be taken to the Mississippi State Line and thrown out of the state of Alabama, and not allowed back until he knew how to talk to white people.

After the trial, the traumatized and guilt-ridden 18-year old was taken to Tuskegee Institute where four faculty members spent a year counseling him through nervous breakdowns and depression. Due to shock, Carl had shut down and refused to talk. He remained in a zombified state. As a result of the incident, Carl developed three different personalities. One of the personalities was prone to blackouts and violent behavior.

Carl graduated from Tuskegee in Electrical Engineering and worked for thirteen years in the Aerospace Industry before pursuing a career as a stand-up comedian. On the surface, Carl appeared to be a normal, successful individual. After 22 years of trying to manage his secret of his Father's death, his states of depression, guilt, and multiple personalities, Carl was still suffering.

In 1984, Carl met a man who talked to him about the power of forgiveness. Carl attributes the act of forgiving the man who killed his Father as saving his life. He describes it as being the most enjoyable moment of his life - a day of freedom from his self-imposed prison.

In the play, Carl takes the audience through his personal agony of being humiliated in a Jim Crow court trial to being locked in a hotel room and being harassed by eight members of the Klan, the night before George Wallace stood in the door of the University of Alabama to keep black students out; he gives you a peek into the struggles of being a polio victim attending grade school; how his Father's killer became his imaginary enemy and friend; the nurturing environment at Tuskegee Institute, his changes in careers - from engineer to taxi driver to stand-up comedian - and more.

ella Productions proudly presents the shocking, revealing and educational production of "A Killing In Choctaw." This special one-man, two-hour, autobiographical presentation was written and produced by Carl Ray.

"A Killing In Choctaw" will invigorate and appeal to your deepest senses. In a humorous, yet sometimes serious and sophisticated manner, Mr. Ray portrays witnessing the murder of his father. In a very telling and thoughtful way, the play describes how he eventually arrived at a place of forgiveness and healing.

There could be no better time than now for "A Killing In Choctaw" when elected officials and community leaders try to find positive ways and methodologies to teach compassion, racial healing, understanding, and tolerance for our fellow human kind. "A Killing In Choctaw" is undoubtedly an important link in this process.

Joe Marsh, Principal
Choctaw County Training High School (1962)