Puppetry can be a life-giving source of joy and inspiration. It can also be a powerful force for confronting ugly truths about the world. As puppeteers, we recognize the truth and injustice of racism, and we stand in solidarity with all those who work to dismantle racist systems, practices, and institutions.
Racism manifests itself every day in our work as a cultural organization. We see it in the demographics of our audiences—in the persistent racial segregation of Boston-area schools, the unequal allocation of resources, and the coded assumptions about who belongs in what spaces. We see it burdening artists of color who face prejudice, tokenization, and the emotional labor of code-switching in predominantly white spaces. This all exists against a backdrop of violent and traumatizing news, history, lived reality, and the persistent injustice of present day events.
Thankfully, we also see racism bravely grappled with on stage. In the hands of Black and Brown artists and allies, racism’s shape-shifting nature becomes apparent. We see its power, but also see its vulnerabilities. We experience empathy, we take action, and we feel hope.
Puppet Showplace Theater is an anti-racist institution. We strive to be a safe and welcoming space for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. We see this as our duty, our sacred obligation as a cultural non-profit that receives public funding and asks for public trust. We expect to be held accountable for our actions to the public we serve. We ask that the same accountability be applied to all public servants, from elected officials to police officers, from teachers to fire fighters. We stand in solidarity with all who protest injustice and speak truth. We call on artists and cultural organizations everywhere to set our hands, heads, and hearts to work behind this cause.
Resources to Learn and Take Action
CNN/Sesame Street Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism Town Hall for Kids and Families
Social Justice Books All-Ages Curated Multicultural and Social Justice Book List
Books for Littles Anti-Racism for Kids 101
Working Document for Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources
Brookline Tab Hundreds March against Racial Injustice in Brookline Village Protest
Brookline Select Board Member Raul Fernandez A Challenge to My Overwhelmingly White, Relatively Wealthy, and Allegedly Progressive Community
Statement from Brookline Police Chief Andy Lipson
Campaign Zero Movement to End Police Violence
Boston Globe Boston. Racism. Image. Reality.
National Movement Site for Black Lives Matter
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater (MN) Justice for George Floyd
Images:
Artistic Director Roxanna Myhrum, Davron Monroe, and Kaitee Tredway in “O, King” (2015).
Tarish Jeghetto Pipkins directing “Just Another Lynching” (2018).
Tanya Nixon-Silberg, Wee The People’s “My Night in the Planetarium” (2020).
Student Rory L.W. in Shadow Puppet Production Lab (2017).
Students Magalie N. and Whitney D. in Introduction to Puppetry Performance (2019).
