black lives matter means that black artists matter. we must hold our broadway community accountable. here’s a very minimal list of black-centered educational resources that theatre folks can utilize:
Things to read/watch/listen to
american son on netlfix- adapted from the broadway play, stars kerry washington and directed by kenny leon (a raisin in the sun, a soldier’s play). discusses anti-black police brutality, raising biracial children, black cops, & more. bring tissues and take notes. (tw: gunshot noises in second half). (1.5 hours)
“broadway is racist”- video made by actor and playwright griffin mathews (witness uganda/invisible thread) regarding his experiences as a black creator on broadway. includes issues with “diverse” shows, his play’s name change, and white creatives in power who do not speak up for black voices in the arts. (7 min)
“broadway’s jelani alladin explains why white silence is so painful”- I encourage you to not only watch this video, but also follow jelani (frozen, hercules) on his socials to further your education on anti-black issues that broadway regularly ignores. (3 min)
#starsinthehouse episode- seth & james shift their twice-daily show to raise money for the NAACP defense fund, talking about broadway silence and black equity issues with schele williams (original cast of aida and set to direct the revival) and afro-latinx actor robin de jesus (in the heights, the boys in the band). parts of this made me smile and laugh, and others made me stop and asses. a part of this is also recognizes appropriate etiquette regarding non-black LGBT folks and black allyship. (1 hour)
this list of black-created plays you can use as a resource to research or purchase to watch. some well-known names include: a raisin in the sun, schoolgirls: or, the african mean girls play, eclipsed, choir boy.
@blackonbroadway - a blog dedicated to spotlighting black artists and achievements in theatre.
“black lives matter: a virtual celebration of black theatre artists”- broadway sessions held a virtual fundraiser for BLM on june 4, but this video is still relevant in centering black artists and their thoughts on anti-racism and police brutality. features artists from: six, hamilton, tina, ragtime, and more. (3.5 hours)
HIGHER- a playlist amplifying black artists and stories in theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes. please read the caption before listening.
Organizations to support, donate, and sign
NAACP legal defense fund
Broadway for Racial Justice / direct links to the Nederlander petition (who continuously donates to tr*mp) and BFRJ donations
Broadway Black / direct links to donate and sign
Broadway Diversity Project
Black Lives Matter resource card
petition to make the apollo theater an official broadway house- there are currently zero black theatre owners. contribute by signing to make the change.
Broadway for Black Lives Matter- held by the broadway advocacy coalition from june 10th-12th. register now.
I encourage you to reblog and add more resources which amplify black voices explicitly and primarily, so that we can collectively hold ourselves accountable and educate one-another as an “inclusive” community. with all of this being said, it is not the job of our black friends to educate us. what matters is that we seek out the work ourselves, to speak up so that our black friends don’t have to. #blacklivesmatter
We must use our privilege to help bring our brothers and sisters up.
