Jordan 1

Casey Jordan
Mrs. Cooper
ENGL 442-370
14 May 2015
Prejudice in parade
In the beginning of Parade we are introduced right off the bat to
Leo and his wife who have just moved to Atlanta. From the beginning
of the musical we get a sense that Leo does not belong here setting hi
up as an outsider. Leo These people make me tenseI didn't
understand that being Sotherns not just being in the South: When I
look out on all this, how can I call this home? (http://classicweb.archive.org/web/20061014033806/libretto.musicals.ru/text.php?
textid=557&language=1)
Since Leo is a Jewish outsider from the north being introduced to
a very southern community which is why it makes it so easy for the
community to saw whatever they want about him in court. Its almost
as if he isnt even human. He has a kid, you know---|Knocked up some
student so He paid to make her go I know it, yes, I seen it, yes!
(Web.archive.org) and even when we see Fiddlin John sing he says
People of Atlanta, All are victims of this crime! It is time now!
(web.archive.org) Even though Leo is a citizen just like the rest of them
he is looked as the outside battling against the people of Atlanta. And
then as we are taken to the end of the first trail we see the people of
Atlanta shouting Hang the Jew! further showing that Leo is only seen
as an outsider.
Then later in act 2 we are taken to the jail yard where Conley is
and we get the perspective that even he two is seen as an outsider in
the community.
CONLEY, RILEY AND NEWT LEE-There's a black man swingin' in
ev'ry tree, ALL FOUR -But they don't never pay attention!
ANGELA -Oh, no: CONLEY -Hell: ALL FOUR -They never say,
"Why? Why? Why?" RILEY -But if a Yankee boy flies
(web.archive.org)
I think this is a great parallel to the ending before the hanging when
Craig sings, Windows were smashed in Jewish stores. Jacob Seligman,
a clothier, was beaten and left for dead. (Web.archive.org) Again
another murder from a man of another culture that no one cares about.
And the saddest part about the whole show is that the only characters
who show any sort of change are Lucille and Leo as we see there
relationship grow and really flourish in there final moments as we see
in All the Wasted Time However the rest of the town continues on as
if nothing wrong has happened which is reflected in the repeating of

Jordan 1
the first song sung in the show an the ending before curtain.