South Asian Theatre with Universal Appeal

Black Lives Matter

We are devastated by the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery…it’s a long list. These are just the most recent recorded examples in the history of continued, systemic violence that members of Black American communities face every day.

EnActe’s commitment to diversity is a commitment to all diversity.

We stand against all oppression.

We stand with Black Lives Matter.

If you want to show allyship to advocacy groups, here are some of the most prominent organizations who could use your donations and direct support:


Our audiences who live in the U.S. are all too familiar with the history of American racism against Black communities.

Discourse on the subject often excludes other minorities, including us. Over this past week, we have sought to better understand: Where do South Asians fit into the narrative of anti-black sentiments in American history?

Here is some perspective by local writers:

Young voices are beginning to be heard. Emielyn Das, EnActeur since the age of 12, writes this with other young South-Asian Americans:

Are we as a community doing enough to fight anti-Black racism? Here is one view, by Canadian Meera Estrada.

Bay Area Novelist Kalpana Mohan writes

We at EnActe have always been committed to uplifting minority voices, and today we re-commit to being an agent of change.

We strive to use our skills as theatre creatives to amplify these voices and motivate you, our audience, to have the conversations with your your families and communities that are critical to inciting change.

Here are two articles that may help in these conversations.

Are we unthinkingly perpetuating the myth of the model minority which has historically been and continues to be used to promote anti-blackness?

We have always held fast to the notion that representation increases empathy, active awareness, and inclusivity—directly making the world a better place. Here are some movies, TV shows, and books that can help to widen the scope of the dialogue.

Books:

  • Black Girl Dangerous by Mia McKenzie
  • Colored Cosmopolitanism by Nico Slate
  • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  • How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
  • The Warmth of Other Suns: the Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

TV Shows:

  • 13th
  • When They See Us
  • Council of Dads
  • Black-ish
  • Insecure

Movies:

  • Hidden Figures
  • Selma
  • The Hate U Give
  • If Beale Street Could Talk


We have a long way to go, and we won’t get there unless we go together.