Weekly Margin 2020, W24: Black Lives Fucking Matter

The last weekend of May and first week of June saw global protests flaring up for Black Lives Matter, as people around the world took to the streets against centuries police brutality and systemic racism. Those protests continue and the fight rages on, even as police come to protests and assault peaceful protestors, medics, legal observers, and journalists. I support these protests and unequivocally condemn police brutality. Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery are only a recent three in an infuriatingly long and storied list of Black people being murdered by law enforcement or by citizens who fancy themselves qualified to police Black bodies. More Black people are being killed by police even as these protests go on. To say Black Lives Matter is the bare fucking minimum. The time for justice is long overdue.

#BlackLivesMatter

American Civil Liberties Union
A list of funds for supporting Black people, especially those in the queer community. This document also includes bail funds and tips for staying safe while protesting.
A working document on how to be a better anti-racism ally (reading resources and action plans).

Additionally, theater and film artists of color, inspired by the protests, are speaking out about rampant discrimination they've experienced on Broadway, in Hollywood, and beyond, and are asking that we all take advantage of the pause given us by the pandemic to see a more inclusive, more actively anti-racist way forward. Here are a few of their stories:

• Writer/performer Griffin Matthews shared the story of bringing his musical Witness Uganda (renamed Invisible Thread when produced at 2nd Stage).
• Performer Cooper Howell shared his experience playing Prince Hans in Frozen at the Hyperion.
• Performer Bryn Carter shared an open letter she wrote to The Flea Theater about their treatment of her while she was a Bat.
• Performer Billy Porter shared his experiences and a call to action.
• Performer Krysta Gonzales shares her letter to the Groundlings about their policies.
• Playbill reposted Tonya Pinkins's 2015 story of her departure from CSC's Mother Courage and Her Children.
• David Oyelowo recounted when Selma was punished by The Academy for calling attention to the murder of Eric Garner.

There is also a petition demanding a commitment from American theater to do better. And there is a crowdsourced document of anti-racist theater resources.

I know I haven't always done right. I've had blinders up and not even realized they were there. I am trying to be better.

I didn't watch any theater during the first week of June, but I am slowly returning to watching some things. List below the cut:

Streaming Theater-Related Content I Watched

• Via Broadway HD, Pipeline.
• Matrix Theatre Company's production of Scraps.
• Philadelphia's Wilma Theater's production of Kill Move Paradise.
• Playbill's Pride Plays reading of One in Two.
• Anna Deveare Smith's Twilight: Los Angeles.
• National Theatre at Home's Coriolanus and The Madness of George III.
• The Drama Desk Awards.

Theater Developments

• The Drama Desk Awards aired on June 13.
• A new awards ceremony honoring black theater artists in New York, the Antonyo Awards, will stream on June 19.