But what has our 230-year national experience been but a dialogue about race?
Our earliest drama on the subject, “Metamora,” by John Stone (1829), concerns the relations between the Massachusetts settlers and Prince Philip of the Wampanoags. So does the novel “Hope Leslie” by Catherine Sedgwick (1827).
8 comments:
Race is a constant issue. It has and most likely will always be a topic for discussion in America. This article interested me in discussing the lies about race instead of the truth about race. I feel that lies and stereotypes based on race are much more frequent than truths. It's refreshing to see someone approach this issue from a different viewpoint. Hopefully some new discoveries will be made.
I think this play sounds very interesting. There have been some great drama about the conflicts between blacks and whites, and about them living together. This sounds like it will be a different take on the subject. The premise of "What are the lies?" is interesting and should present some interesting drama.
This might be the ignorance in me talking, so please correct me if I am wrong, but I found absolutely nothing enlightening in this article. It felt redundant, and uninformative. While I agree race is an important issue that should consistently be discussed with delicacy, I did not appreciate the ramble of opinions, nor did I like the way he worded several thoughts. For instance, his point about offending Jews. I might have misunderstood, but to me it seemed like he was implying no non-Jew could poke fun at a Jew without coming off as offensive. I am tired of race being such a sensitive subject. I do not see why certain harmless stereotypes (which have some truth in them...as they had to have come from somewhere) have become so touchy. I say this because I had a friend in high school who took offense to the most harmless things. As a person with a sense of humour, I try not to take racial jokes so seriously. I make fun of Armenians all the time (and I am one). His other point that I disagree with is his point stating plot should be discussed rather than theme. I have never once discussed the plot of a play or novel of literary merit in as great depth as the theme. As I have only had four years of experience in analyzing works in this manner, I am no expert, but I am fairly certain that that is how it is usually done, not the other way around. His thought on that subject put me off to the rest of the article.
It's a given that race is an uncomfortable issue for most people. No matter your race you have to tred lightly to avoid stepping on toes. All the same however, it's an issue that's as constant as taxes. By this point in my life the discomfort that wells up in my chest when I hear about race is also accompanied by the urge to roll my eyes and groan. We've been fed opinions on the subject so long the subject can easily feel passe. That said I'd like to see this play. It seems what you're trying to hit on, at least as I read your description, is less the nature of race and more the nature of how we discuss it. Very often how we feel and what we say about race are two very different things and I hope your play explores this in new light.
It's important for everyone to talk about race, since it is something that is not so often SERIOUSLY talked about. People will joke about the "race issue", but most people don't feel comfortable having a serious conversation about it. It's great that there is a play about it now, because as we all know, theatre is a great way to start dialogue.
What everyone said here is very valid and i agree with you. It seems to me that people are overly sensitive with the race issue. I feel that people should be able to talk openly about more than just race. I hate the fact that people are openly prejudice against not only different races, but about other things like homosexuality as well.
This article brings up a subject that I have been debating with myself for the past 8 years.
When I first moved to the United States one of the things that was most immediately and jarringly obvious to me was how acutely aware of and concerned with everyone was about race. Every time a subject involving race comes up there is an immediate sense of discomfort, an innate sense to pretend that the differences and stereotypes we are all so aware of do not exist and do not apply, because as humans we have surely evolved and are simply all equal. On the other hand in Venezuela divisions among people are more directly correlated with social status and economic class, race however, is simply accepted. Caracas is a city with plenty of diversity and while children are taught acceptance just like everywhere else the underlying lesson is not, as it is here, "skin color does not matter". So which one is preferable? Do we tip toe around what makes us different, acknowledge it, accept it and undoubtedly find other ways to separate and regroup ourselves? I still do not know, and while this play may be interesting I have no hopes that it will bring clarity to this ongoing dialogue.
I feel that race never comes up unless there is a problem; but, it never comes out otherwise. Those who are too weary of "being offensive" and don't talk about race are not helping the situation. If we can't talk about race out of an offensive context, there is no way we'll be able to get over our struggles. This play looks like it will allow for viewers to gain new perspective; I hope it is successful.
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