I saw two really incredible pieces of theater this week in Saint Louis.
First, I saw a performance of the world premiere of Until the Flood by Dael Orlandersmith. Orlandersmith is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and Drama Desk Award nominee who was commissioned to come to Saint Louis to write a play about the unrest in Ferguson. She interviewed Michael Brown, Sr. and many other people - political activists and just people in general - who were a major part of the happenings in Ferguson in the Fall of 2014. She then transcribed many of these interviews and performed them. It was brilliant. Not only was it phenomenal acting (Orlandersmith played around 10 characters in this production, all of which were vastly different and intricate), but she presented all sides of a very confusing, very touchy topic. This production runs at The Repertory Theatre until November 6th and is well worth your time.
Next, I saw a production of the play festival Every 28 Hours. Also birthed in Saint Louis, Every 28 Hours is a compilation of 90 1-minute snapshots that were inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Playwrights and artists from all over the country were given the opportunity to speak to the happenings in Ferguson, and 90 pieces were selected to be performed in this high stakes play festival. This piece focuses primarily on the Black Lives Matter movement, and poses some very interesting questions to each community involved in this conversation. Here in Saint Louis, these performance are over, but you can get more info about the movement here.
In case you're confused, whether you mean to be or not, YOU are a part of this conversation.
Even though I knew before I went to go see these plays that I was a part of this conversation, I hear it a lot more loudly now. Everywhere I look I see the injustices, and I hear the voices crying out to be heard and all I can think is, "What the heck does it even mean to be an ally in this situation?"
So, here's the point of the article, because I want to keep in short here.
I think that until we (that means all of us) get to the point where we can talk about these issues without being irate and ugly to one another, there will be no solution.
I don't know the perfect answer here. I don't know how define "ally."
I do know that my heart is heavy and I want to be a part of the solution. I do know that I will be starting conversations whenever and where ever I can. I know that I will lend a listening ear, and I will keep my heart open to being a part of the healing process for these issues.
I hope you will do the same.
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."
