Theatre Library Association: Working Together Towards an Anti-racist and Anti-oppressive Society
Black Lives Matter, and we have to say the names of those who were senselessly killed by police brutality and anti-blackness: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Freddie Gray, Botham Jean, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, and an almost endless list of others. Our heart goes out to the families, friends and colleagues of victims of police violence and anti-blackness.
People are hurting, scared and exhausted. The Theatre Library Association supports African American communities, who face systemic oppression, racism and lack of support, including during this COVID-19 pandemic. We all need to live our lives without fear. We cannot continue to be indifferent and allow some lives to be less valued than others. Racism is systemic and pervasive. As an organization and an industry, are we doing all we can to dismantle the structures of white supremacy and embrace anti-racism in our lives and in our theatres, our libraries and archives? Big steps and small steps equally count, as long as we work together towards an anti-racist and anti-oppressive society.
Some initial steps:
- We would like to start a play-reading and discussion group, featuring plays that focus on police violence and anti-blackness. To join this conversation, please fill out this form, or contact us at TheatreLibraryAssociation@gmail.com.
- Examples:
- Pass Over, by Antoinette Nwandu.
- Every 28 Hours Plays (https://www.every28hoursplays.org/the-plays-2/).
- Examples:
- You can go to the resource page of playwright Aleshea Harris’s website: https://www.bagofbeans.net/wtsu-resources: you can send Love Letters To Black People or add names to the Living Memorial.
- Educate yourself and others about anti-racism; one example: Anti-Racism Resources for All Ages, https://padlet.com/nicolethelibrarian/nbasekqoazt336co.
- Donate to organizations that fight against racism and oppression.
- Examples:
- Black Lives Matter, https://blacklivesmatter.com
- Black Visions Collective, https://www.blackvisionsmn.org
- The Movement for Black Lives, https://m4bl.org
- Examples:
- Diversify your organizations! Fight to create theatres, libraries and archives that are representative of and welcoming to everybody.
- Help us build a more representative Theatre Library Association by becoming a member, joining a committee (or suggesting a new one), or running for a seat on our Board. Contact us at TheatreLibraryAssociation@gmail.com for more information.
Signed:
The Theatre Library Association Board
Website: https://www.tla-online.org; email: TheatreLibraryAssociation@gmail.com