“The Black Monologues” was performed exactly as the name suggests: as a series of monologues about black life, both during students’ time at the University and in the context of changes that occur after admission to the University and arrival on Grounds.
Although the audience “The Black Monologues” aims for is the greater University community, at times, certain monologues can make white members of the audience uncomfortable. The humor also heavily relies on culturally specific concepts with which some audience members may not be familiar.
However, that is not to say that the production becomes malicious or conveys a sense of racial superiority. The play creates a real representation of living as a minority and the difficulties that come along with it. This representation of the realities of race results in a performance that elicits laughter, tears, anger and love.
The monologues themselves represent the varying experiences and levels of perceived “blackness” students feel, ranging from experiences of growing up in Africa to being both black and queer. While “The Black Monologues” definitely addresses what it is like to live in the predominantly white community at the University, this idea doesn’t define the performance. It addresses institutionalized racism and cultural ignorance in ways that are emotionally moving, both in a comedic fashion and in a somber one. However, most importantly, “The Black Monologues” promotes self-love and equality which can often be challenging for young black people to feel in a predominantly white setting.
After a request for an encore, students will perform “The Black Monologues” again on Nov.19-20 at 7 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21 in the Helms theater.
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