Yes, I take it personally when I see systemic racism raging right in front of my face. I am not the one to take it lightly. For most Black people, we have to choose our battles because there is always something to rage against on a daily basis. I cannot fight all those battles but this is one I choose to fight. When privileged white people take it for granted that just getting an all-white captive audience to chant, “We have to do better,” is making it better is quite frankly is a HUGE problem.
Since the passing of the great August Wilson, in 2005, I do not know of any Black heterosexual male playwright who has been on Broadway. And, I don’t know of many that have had their plays produced Off-Broadway or in regional theatres across the country either. I’m sure there may be one or two, but I just don’t know who they are. There has been a multitude of Black female playwrights that have met with major success and lately, it’s been the gay and queer Black playwrights that have been getting all of the attention. Jeremy O’Harris is a self proclaimed queer and director Robert O’Hara is gay. And, most of those plays have had white directors. The Black female playwrights are writing good stuff and I applaud them. I feel the same about the gay and queer voices. I just want to know why the Black heterosexual male being shut out?
