When we meet Bert Williams performing as a minstrel, he yearns to be fully seen and validated as a person and an artist. Instead, Bert plays a stereotype, and when he tries to stand tall, he is discounted, humiliated, and even threatened.  However, Bert is determined to pursue his dream, nevertheless.  
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As much as we want audiences to see the many facets of Bert’s unique struggle as a black man  whose profession as an entertainer means being paid to wear blackface and denigrate himself for laughs,  we also want them to know that the essence of Bert’s journey is one that all of us can understand.

 

Bert's quest to be seen takes him on quest to perform Shakespeare on Broadway during a time that this looks impossible.  Like all of us, who desire to fulfill a dream that seems too big or impossible, Bert finds himself examining his own heart.  He comes face to face with his self-worth, wondering  Am I Enough? 

 

Whether we are pursuing a DREAM, a next STEP UP for ourselves, or pushing through a MAJOR CHALLENGE, there is a little voice inside of us that wonders whether we can really do it or pull it off.

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Am I Enough?  is the universal question we all must face, which leads us to examine the intentions behind our actions. 

 

Perhaps we look for validation in our outer experiences - in our social status, our educational degrees, the money we earn, our social status, the clothes we wear, the homes we live in, the cars we drive, etc.

 

We may even label someone as “less than” to make us feel that we are "more than" in order to quiet this lingering question of Am I Enough?   

 

Worse, we may even stop searching and purposely choose to live without realizing our purpose or taking steps toward our dreams,  too frightened of disappointment.

 

Bert wrestles with all of this until he is given a chance to silence his inner noise.  His choices remind us to take a close look at what believe deep down about our own.