Intellectual Crushing - #12

DEAR ROW: 

I have an intellectual crush on Dr. Greg Carr. I know you’re wondering who the hell Dr. Carr is. He’s a professor at Howard University. And blew my mental back out with his lively discussion about the state of the black community and the history that precedes and affects it. He was speaking on a panel following a presentation on the 50^th Anniversary of the Birmingham bombing of the four little girls. Where am I going with this, huh?

I wish we could see more of the Dr. Carr’s on television. I melt like a witch being doused with water every time I see a stereotypical black character on television. Because I know generally it’s a person of color who is perpetuating that stereotype now. I know we don’t tower over TV networks like puppet masters, well, Oprah does, but we can refuse to write defaming images of ourselves, right?

The same evening I was blessed with Dr. Carr’s eloquence, I met the executive director of a landmark black theater here in Philly. She gave me a tour. I met all of the staff members. She told everyone that I would be interning there once a week. I was elated, but I had extreme hesitation. Ninety percent of the staff members are women over fifty. Would they be open to my ideals? My modernity and militancy? I waited for a call anyway. Excited for her to call. I never got that call. The following week I called. The first time, I got a busy signal. They can’t only have one line? So I called again. And again. I got a busy signal all three times. So the phones don’t work even work?

The executive director and I only met by chance. She did not know a thing about me, but what I offered. But after visiting their website later on that evening. And touring the theater. I became conscious of the plays they typically produce. Plays with mostly stereotypical black characters. And as much as I wasn’t interested in immediately lobbying for my own work to be produced there, I feel they might never be interested in producing my work. My work often points the finger at the ‘traditionals’ that make up the black community, as well as those neo-colonials (this is not the same as PONC). My work delves into homosexuality and issues individuals or communities would rather keep locked up in a cupboard.

Of course there a number of writers actively writing about racism, sexual orientation, ageism, sexual assault, adoption, gun violence, public education, prison industrialization, etc. But unfortunately, those works rarely permeate mass media the way negative images do. I dream that one day Nene Leakes or Tyler Perry changes their mission in life, or their enemy target and focus it on the ills affecting the community they are a part of. And that more of Dr. Carrs begin to permeate mass media.

Write me back,

Chanel

(p.s.: More power to those seasoned women running that theater. They need our help!) 

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DEAR CHANEL:

We cannot attempt to guess what is popular, what will make money and what audiences will flock to – hence why you don’t see more of the Dr. Carr’s on TV and why you DO see a perpetuated stereotypical black character.  This character is bankable, time and again it creates jobs and money so it is overused and will continue to be until is not longer fiscally viable.  Why this character is more often than not portrayed and written by a black writer is beyond you and I.  If we could predict popular market trends then we would be in charge of Hollywood, wouldn’t we?  What I can speak to, is that change starts somewhere and at some point someone decides that she wants to read a different narrative.  She searches and searches for this alternative story and despite her deepest and most thorough searches Google fails her and she is unable to find the story that speaks to her… so what does she do?  She writes it her own goddamn self.  What does this mean?  Ultimately, validation. 

But for the purposes of this response… while many respected people who are older and established have an image, persona and reputation for producing particular stories with certain types of characters… that was their path and it was shaped by what they decided to do in the early stages of their careers – just as we are, now, beginning to be tested.  Those early trailblazers chose to ‘conform’ or say something that was acceptable, producible or indicative of a perceived status quo.  It was more important to propel their brand and writing within this system instead of stepping outside of it and saying… what if I want to introduce a different narrative?  What if I say that which no one wants to even whisper about?  What if instead of saying it I shouted it over a loudspeaker? 

I look at your work and voice –exactly like this.  One day we’ll be established and old(er) and ‘respected’ that comes with time not necessarily bodies of work.  While maybe these women might have been great lead-ins and resources, if your overall governing philosophies of story content and theme don’t match… what realistic relationship besides utilitarian would you have had?  If there’s one thing I’ve certainly learned in this town it’s that no one is giving anyone favors because they’re the ‘same’.  No one’s here to help out another black person or another gay person- they’re here to help out the talented, strong voices and those that have something to say that other people will happily pay to listen.

What I’m saying is that you’ll find your group and those that want to celebrate and promote your work proudly – they might not be a canon of black female playwrights who are the foundation of the institution of black theater.  But wouldn’t you rather have someone who believed in you than looked like you on your side?  Isn’t that what the stereotype suggests… because we all look alike and check the same boxes, we’re the same and will react similarly… we don’t. 

Boomsnap,
--Row