Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone was written by August Wilson in the 1950’s. On the surface it addresses the issues felt by black people after the abolition of slavery. However, it also deals with connecting your heritage with the person that you have become. There are both Christian and non-Christian beliefs expressed by the characters in Wilson’s play. Herald Loomis is the stranger that comes to Seth’s boarding house on his path to finding his wife, Martha. Herald cuts his own skin to symbolize that he is the one who can save himself. Bynum believes there is some type of salvation to be found in Herald because he believes that he is the “shinny man” that his father once told him to look out for. He asks a man named Selig to help him find the shinny man. Selig may or may not be given credit for finding the shinny man, but he does reunite Martha and Herald. Over the course of events the characters learn about themselves as well as how to be part of this new make shift family in the boarding house.
References: http://www.answers.com/topic/joe-turner-s-come-and-gone-play-2 and also articles assigned in class.