Description
Book SynopsisThe current socio-political climate in the United States sheds a critical, glaring light on the racism and white supremacy which has been part of the fabric of this country since the seventeenth century. Barack Obama’s tenure as president resulted in a major increase in white hate groups, hate crimes, and unrelenting violence against innocent Black men and women by police. In response, people of different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, ages and classes have taken to the streets in protest, and increased decades long efforts to organize against racism and for a more empathetic, just, democratic society. Social change about racism must begin with acknowledgement followed by open, focused, critical dialogue. Still Hanging: Using Performance Texts to Deconstruct Racism, referencing both the resilience of Black people in the face of institutionalized racism and systemic oppression, and the fact that Black people continue to be literally and metaphorically lynched in 2020, is designed to use the power of lived experience specific performance texts as frames for engaging faculty, students and others interested in beginning to deconstruct racism and construct an anti-racist way of being.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Message about Cover Art List of Figures About the Authors Introduction PART 1: Sounds of Blackness 1 Still Hanging/On: ‘Strange Fruit’ and ‘Glory’ — Songs of/as/in Protest: Or, from Stage to Page: Documenting Ideological Performance Bryant Keith Alexander Interlude 1: On Blackouts and Black Notes Bryant Keith Alexander 2 Black Notes Mary E. Weems Interlude 2: Confluences of Pain Bryant Keith Alexander 3 Let the People See What They Did to My Child Mary E. Weems 4 George Floyd’s Mama Mary E. Weems 5 Wendy’s, Me, and Rayshard Brooks: Another Black Man Killed (June 12, 2020) Bryant Keith Alexander 6 Where’s the Beef? Mary E. Weems Interlude 3: A Moment of Prayer Bryant Keith Alexander 7 Three Meditations on Prayer and Particularity: Or: On Black Mothers, Social Justice, and Queering Catholicism Bryant Keith Alexander Interlude 4: Courageous Conversations Bryant Keith Alexander 8 Three Conversations Mary E. Weems Interlude 5: Trigger Warnings Bryant Keith Alexander Interlude 6: Bamboozled Mary E. Weems 9 Eat Fresh Mary E. Weems 10 Not a Fan Letter: Or, Trigger Warning: An Autoethnographic Rant on Jussie Smollett Bryant Keith Alexander Interlude 7: Hanging Chads? Bryant Keith Alexander PART 2: Bodies on the Line 11 Attached? Mary E. Weems 12 Still Hanging? Bryant Keith Alexander Interlude 8: A Crack in My Heart Bryant Keith Alexander 13 Crack the Door for Some Air Mary E. Weems PART 3: Black/White Double Consciousness 14 Is There a White Double Consciousness? A Short Dialogue Mary E. Weems and Bryant Keith Alexander Study Questions, Prompts, and Probes Bryant Keith Alexander Notes for Teachers, Faculty, and Facilitators on Establishing a Learning Community Mary E. Weems Bibliography and Further Reading
