Last night, I watched a play called ‘The Color Museum’
It was a walking play, no seats, just scenes from place to place throughout the New Orleans African American Museum (NOAAM). The Colored Museum, “Originally premiering in 1986, this bold and provocative satire presents a series of 11 "exhibits" representing Black American culture. Described by playwright George C. Wolfe as both "an exorcism and a party", THE COLORED MUSEUM has electrified, discomforted, and delighted audiences of all colors redefining our ideas of what it means to be Black in contemporary America.” - https://www.noaam.org
First, let me start by saying, the experience was absolutely 10/10, top tier acting and subject matter. I will be going again and bringing more black folks next time. Each actor and actress completely captivated the audience, brought all the pizazz, and tugged on the necessary emotions… Well, maybe.
I’m usually hyper-MANY things when I am in black space with majority non-black people but because NOAAM is a familiar place and in my home city, I felt relaxed. That was until, the play began and I quickly realized the depths of this satire and how they called out things that weigh heavily on MY back, on a daily basis. My issue wasn’t with the satire though… I felt right at home. The issue, to my surprise, was how annoyed and uncomfortable I became with white people laughing at the satire about Black American History, AND in Black History Month. Chile.
What’s more disappointing than the laughter of more than likely insensitive white folks, was the fact that on the opening night, there were all of about 25% black people in the audience. Which then inspired TWO poem ideas, one about the urgency for people to slow down with traveling and flooding New Orleans with their passive gentrifying styles and one about native New Orleans taking up MORE space in our home so that we aren’t completely pushed out. I’ll be sharing those soon, maybe… Chile, look.
What I want ACTUALLY want you to take from this is that 1) black folks need to show up for black ART, 2) natives need to take up more space in our homes, and 3) GO SEE THE COLORED MUSUEM as soon as you can and bring as MANY black folks as possible because an all black show in a predominantly black city DESERVES appropriate audience representation. This is not a call just to fill the audience with black people alone, this is a call to support one of the best plays that I have completely EVER seen. I am unfortunately a tough critic and my only critic about this play is simply that not enough black people were aside me in the audience. I’m urging us all, not to shame the ancestors. Go, be apart of history!
Purchase your tickets here: https://www.noaam.org
