Future We — Push Through Have you ever seen a woman give birth? When it happens on television it always fits conveniently between commercial breaks, underscored with dramatic music, but in real life, birth is no respecter of time or sound. From the moment the water breaks there’s no turning back. The baby pushes against…

Trans and Queer BIPOC to the Front! Black queer people and Black trans people have always been on the front line of justice, from Black Lives Matter, to Stonewall, to the recorded history they deny us. Yet, we are often the last people included in the goals and outcomes of that justice. …

The Strain: White Fragility The pressure increases… it feels there’s like an anvil sitting on your chest. Or a bed of nails. Breathing is laboured. Nausea. Headaches. Exhaustion… Yeah. These are all signs that you may be carrying around the weight of White Fragility (*see White Tears), a dangerous strain of White Supremacy that disproportionately…

The Isms in the Room — While we’re talking about “isms,” can we please discuss the patriarchal overlord that is Capitalism? This economic system we’re swimming in feeds on oppression of all kinds, but racism is its main course — has been for centuries. …

All Skinfolk Ain’t Kinfolk Gather round party people, I’ve a story to tell, One that BIPOC theatre artists, will know all too well. It’s what granny would say, When you were spurned by your kin. “All Skinfolk Ain’t Kinfolk!” Now, let us begin. Kevin is Black. As Black as can be. Well, at least he is…

WTF is a board? Seriously. Who are these powerful people supposedly puppeteering Artistic Directors, Managing Directors, Executive Directors, Chief Financial Officers and countless variations of artistic leaders? Why is it so hard to understand where a Board of Directors’ role begins and ends? Who decides who gets to be on the Board of a…

Liberation Begins with the BIPOC Imagination A little confession: I am a lifelong theater-maker in recovery from an abusive relationship. I’m coming to terms with the unfortunate fact that my imagination has been colonized, despite years of resistance. I’ve been held captive by Eurocentric theatrical traditions, language, and dramaturgy that has been thrust upon me at…

The Bipoc Leader’s Survival Guide This one goes out to our fellow leaders. Artistic Directors. Associate Artistic Directors. Resident Directors. Directors of Engagement and Education. Maybe you’ve been at your job for a year or two, maybe more. Maybe you’ve got an exciting offer from a PWI this summer, when the call for social justice…

THE MOVEMENT BEGINS LIKE THIS… Week in and week out, I turn on my camera. I introduce myself. “My name is…He. Him. His. I’m calling in from the Land of the Lenape.” I look around the Zoom and “popcorn” to another member. Welcome to the “WeSeeYou” weekly meeting. Many familiar faces, but also many black squares with only names displayed. Every week I…