Anti-Racist Theater Group at Harvard Offers Performance of Macbeth for ‘Black-Identifying’ Audience Members Only
“For our non-Black allies, we appreciate your support in making this a completely Black-identifying evening”
Have you noticed that supposedly ‘anti-racist’ groups often don’t seem to understand what anti-racist actually means?
The College Fix reports:
Antiracist Harvard theatre group hosts blacks-only ‘Macbeth’ performance
Harvard University is hosting an “exclusive” performance of an adaptation of the Shakespeare play “Macbeth.”
The Friday performance of “Macbeth in Stride” is “an exclusive space for Black-identifying audience members.” Based on the theatre’s photo album, white actors are allowed in the play.
“For our non-Black allies, we appreciate your support in making this a completely Black-identifying evening,” the description for performance says. “We invite you to join us at another performance during the run.”
“Macbeth In Stride” is a version of the classic play that “examines what it means to be an ambitious Black woman through the lens of one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters,” according the American Repertory Theater, which is housed at the Ivy League university. The theatre holds “anti-racism as a core value.”
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education called on the university to end its segregated event and open up attendance to all people.
“As an integral part of Harvard, the American Repertory Theater is subject to the university’s legal obligations and policies,” the higher education civil liberties nonprofit wrote. “Under federal law, excluding university students, faculty, and staff from educational enrichment opportunities based on race is forbidden.”
Colleges, like Harvard, that accept federal funding, must agree not to discriminate on the basis of race.
FIRE said that state law “also bars discrimination based on race in places of public accommodation,” a designation that includes theaters. The theater also receives funding from Bank of America.
DONATE
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
“For our non-Black allies, we appreciate your support in making this a completely Black-identifying evening,” the description for performance says. “We invite you to join us at another performance during the run.”
You know, that’s where wypipo went wrong. We went and called black people slaves. We should have called them “black allies,” then they would have done whatever we wanted, thought it was their choice, and been required to feel virtuous about it afterward.
They already have a play of their own. Othello.
Don’t forget The Wiz. And Hamilton.
Do they still play Uncle Tom’s Cabin?
I meant Shakespeare, but your point is well taken.
What exactly is Black-identifying??
If I identify as black, can I get free stuff?
I’m so tired of bigotry being a huge fad. Whatever happened to the days of pet rocks and bad music?
Or Nehru jackets.
Have you noticed that supposedly ‘anti-racist’ groups often don’t seem to understand what anti-racist actually means?
“When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’
’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’
’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all.”
“Under federal law, excluding university students, faculty, and staff from educational enrichment opportunities based on race is forbidden.” … but perhaps they could claim they just asked non-black people not to attend, but didn’t actually prevent anyone from doing so.
And perhaps they’d get away with it, for their behavior may be obnoxious yet not actually unlawful. For lots of things are obnoxious yet not unlawful.
For example, there’s no law preventing you from declaring that black people will not be welcome at your party (or other private function). Yet even assuming there are some who would exclude black people from their space if they could, no one issues race-specific invitations because of the severe social disapproval (not to mention ridicule) that would follow. (With the exception of college theater groups, apparently)
For better or worse, public behavior (here and elsewhere) is mostly regulated by custom and not by law. And it’s difficult to see that ever not being so.
It’s amazing how much they make “ally” sound like a synonym for “dhimmi”.
“Macbeth In Stride” is a version of the classic play that “examines what it means to be an ambitious Black woman through the lens of one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters,”
Well, I’m not an ally, and don’t really care about their request, but I would have absolutely no interest in seeing this performance, so if it makes them feel better that people of my skin tone aren’t there, so be it.