Theresa Allison Character Analysis

Theresa Allison is a founder of Mothers Reclaiming Our Children (Mothers ROC), an organization that aids Black and Latino men arrested in Los Angeles on false or exaggerated charges. Her son is Dewayne Holmes, who developed the gang truce. In her emotional interview, “Lightning But No Rain,” Allison describes the death of her nephew, Tiny, who was killed by the LAPD. Tiny’s death made Allison realize how desperately change needed to happen in her community and inspired her to organize in the struggle against police corruption and brutality. Allison provides a detailed account of the corrupt practices of the LAPD, as well as their inhumane treatment of young Black men. One particularly striking detail from her account is the LAPD’s practice of driving young Black men from the projects to neighborhoods controlled by rival gangs, dropping them off, and leaving them to be killed in enemy territory. Allison describes police officers beating Black youths as young as 12 and details how the LAPD targeted her son Dewayne, eventually arresting him on false charges. Like many other oppressed characters Smith interviews for her play, Allison wonders why she and other mothers in her position aren’t worthy of justice and equal treatment in the eyes of the law.