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Black History, Black Futures

By Teresa Eyring posted 02-17-2021 18:42

  

It’s Black History Month, and here at TCG, we’re reflecting on a year of profound change in our field and broader culture. Last year, the largest protest movement in our country’s history rose up to defend and celebrate Black life in what organizers have called Freedom Summer.  Building on that momentum, the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) is inviting people to consider this February’s Black History Month as Black Futures Month. Check out their website for a short film they made, and their Instagram for further information.

In the spirit of Black Histories and Black Futures, we wanted to share some additional resources with you: 

  • Charles Preston's Google Drive of resources on prominent figures, events, and culture in Black History and contemporary times. It's extensive, and the perfect example of what you can find when someone tells you to "Google it".
  • Tricia Hersey's work through the The Nap Ministry, that frames rest as resistance. This resource is for BIPOC, but all are welcome to explore her work. 
  • TCG’s Legacy Leaders of Color Video Project (LLCVP), which includes interviews with founders of Black theatres such as Lou Bellamy, Woodie King Jr., Jackie Taylor, and Douglas Turner Ward.
  • TCG Books has curated a list of our plays by Black playwrights, and you can access them with the special 25% print discount code of GROUND2021.
  • If you’re a Black Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and/or Theatre of Color (BITOC), we want to support you in accessing the federal relief funds of SVOG, PPP, and ERTC. You can find our recent BITOC webinars here, and learn how to sign up for technical assistance once the SVOG guidelines launch.
  • We invite you to revisit American Theatre’s State of Black Theatre special issue from March 2019, as well as the September 2020 special issue, Trans Voices Lead The Way, which includes Black TGNC artists like Goddess. Wriply M. Bennet and Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi. 

    Black history and futures are not limited to the month of February, so let us use the celebrations this month as an opportunity to deepen our understanding, commitment, and actions.  

    To all of our Black colleagues, we wish you a February that is joyful, reflective, restful, restorative, visionary, and whatever you need it to be. 

    To the rest of us, let’s use this month to deepen our daily commitment to defending and celebrating Black life, and to help build Black power. 

    Teresa Eyring and Adrian Budhu

    Teresa Eyring(she/her/hers)
    Executive Director/CEO

    Adrian Budhu
    (he/him/his)
    Deputy Director/COO

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