Truth in Trouble in Mind

Truth becomes a controversial issue as Trouble in Mind comes to a close. Manners, the white director, claims that “truth is simply whatever you can bring yourself to believe, that is all” (82). This statement stirs anger within Wiletta, and she later proclaims that she doesn’t believe in her character in the play: “I’m his mother and I’m sendin’ him to death. This is a lie.” (92). She does not believe in the storyline; she does not believe in its representation of black people. She wants the play changed. However, Manners reveals a cold hard truth when he asks “where the hell do you think I can raise a hundred thousand dollars to tell the unvarnished truth?” (97). He declares that “the American public is not ready to see you the way you want to be seen because, one… they don’t believe it, two… they don’t want to believe it… and three… they’re convinced that they’re superior” (102). Following this, Millie proclaims “we got all the truth we bargained for and then some” (103). Millie’s declaration illuminates a key point about truth at the end of the play. The truth can be painful to hear; the truth is not necessarily fair or right or just. It is reality. Wiletta can have hope, and nourish dreams of becoming a great actress, but her dreams will likely never be reality. Idealistically, the position of black people in society would improve with the ending of segregation, but the truth of the matter is that white people still held onto prejudicial beliefs. Wiletta will likely continue to be discriminated against for some time, even though it is not right.