Plumes is a one-act, folk drama written by Georgia Douglas Johnson in 1927 (first produced at Chicago's Cube Theatre in the same year).
[4] Johnson was one of the most famous writers during this time and much of her work focused on lynching plays and the hardships many African-Americans faced during their lifetime.
They discuss the poultice, hemming a dress in order to make money, and Charity’s ill child in the next room.
Charity washes clothes for a living, earning $1.50, and saving every penny in order to pay for her daughter’s doctor.
To her dismay, the doctor comes back to reveal that the operation is Emmerline’s last chance at survival, and that he will perform the surgery at a discount.
Before she can exit the kitchen Charity comes back, stops in the door way and tells Tildy to rip out the hem on the dress.