Tempestuous Elements, a theatrical production currently showing at Arena Stage, unfolds during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, delving into the story of Anna Julia Cooper, a prominent Black educator embroiled in a heated discourse on the education of Black students.
Historical records present some inconsistencies regarding the timeline of Cooper’s life. However, as documented in The Portable Anna Julia Cooper, she was born into slavery in North Carolina, five years prior to the Emancipation Proclamation. Following her graduation with a master’s degree from Oberlin College in 1887, where she studied alongside her lifelong colleague Mary Church Terrell, Cooper ventured to Washington, DC. There, she took up a teaching position in mathematics at the Preparatory High School for Negro Youth, commonly known as M Street High School, which held the distinction of being the first Black public high school in the country. By 1902, Cooper assumed the role of principal at the institution.
At the onset of the 20th century, a schism emerged within the Black educational community. W.E.B. Du Bois advocated for a comprehensive, liberal arts-focused curriculum, contrasting with Booker T. Washington’s emphasis on vocational training. Cooper, aligning with Du Bois’ perspective, believed in the value of integrating both educational approaches, leading to a clash with the predominantly white DC Board of Education, which favored Washington’s ideology. Despite facing opposition and criticism for her methods and disciplinary style, Cooper stood firm in her beliefs. Ultimately, in 1906, she was ousted from her position as principal following the Board of Education’s decision not to renew her contract.
The play Tempestuous Elements commences in 1905, portraying Cooper navigating through the turbulent circumstances surrounding her. Despite external challenges undermining her and her students’ achievements, the production showcases Cooper as a resilient leader who challenges conventions and upholds the primacy of education. In the playbill’s introductory note, Arena Stage Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif draws parallels between Cooper’s narrative from a century ago and contemporary events, citing the resignation of Claudine Gay, Harvard’s first Black President, amidst public scrutiny and allegations.
Kia Corthron, the playwright commissioned by Arena to craft Tempestuous Elements, underscores Cooper’s belief in providing every child with educational opportunities and autonomy in choosing their paths, whether in medicine or vocational trades.
Following her tenure as principal, Cooper pursued a teaching career in Missouri before returning to M Street School in 1910 to teach Latin. She dedicated her summers to academic pursuits in New York and Paris, culminating in the attainment of a Ph.D. in 1925 at the age of 66, a notable achievement as only the fourth Black woman from the United States to do so. Cooper’s legacy extended to her presidency at Frelinghuysen University, a defunct Black institution in Washington, where she spearheaded the development of a model for modern community colleges, catering to a diverse demographic of working-class learners. Despite financial challenges forcing the school to relocate, Cooper remained actively involved until around 1950, operating it from her residence on T Street in LeDroit Park. She passed away in 1964 at the age of 105 in her Washington, DC home.
Although not widely recognized, Cooper’s ideals endure, with one of her quotes adorning every US passport: “The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class – it is the cause of humankind. The very birthright of humanity.”