Before cellphone cameras made racial realities bare for all to see, artists were creating works that provided a prescient X-ray of today’s headlines. Picture This Post has invited many of these thought leaders on #BLM issues to share their insights from the perspective of their artistic wheelhouses.
To read an interview with one of these culture creators, or to read a Picture This Post review of a work delving into issues of racism, Black and Blue tensions, and more
—click a picture to read the story.
Black Lives Matter
About the Author: Black Lives Matter
About the author: BlackLives Matter EditorialTeam
Picture This Post’s Black Lives Matter Editorial Team aims to highlight Black creatives across the world and cultivate awareness of Black voices in the arts.
Black Theatre United Interview — A Conversation with VANESSA WILLIAMS
BREON ARZELL
BREON ARZELL Talks About #BLM — Interview
CELIA C. PETERS Filmmaker Interview — Afrofuturism The Future is Now
Stephen Marc
Stephen Marc Talks About #BLM — Interview
Jackie Taylor
Black Ensemble Theater Founder JACKIE TAYLOR ON BLACK LIVES MATTER – Interview
TONYA PINKINS
RED PILL Director Tonya Pinkins Interview –Black Lives Matter
Randy Duncan
Randy Duncan on Dance Now and Always — Interview
COURTNEY RENEE COCHRAN
COURTNEY RENEE COCHRAN Choreographer Interview — In Defiance of Hatred
JERRELL L. HENDERSON
JERRELL L. HENDERSON Puppeteer and Theater Director Interview — Walking While Black
ANONYMOUS KILLERS
ANONYMOUS KILLERS Filmmaker Conversation with A.R. Hilton – PREVIEW
A YO!
HipHop Will Save the World A YO! Video — Spence Warren Asks WHO DOESN’T LOVE RAPPING PUPPETS?
HipHopEd Creator
Lincoln Center Activate Presents KEYNOTE LECTURE WITH DR. CHRISTOPHER EMDIN Interview – HipHopEd Creator
Keeody Gallery
Keeody Gallery Co-founder Keelah Jackson Harris Speaks About #BLM – The Power of Paint
International Association of Blacks in Dance
International Association Of Blacks In Dance President Denise Saunders Thompson Speaks — Black Lives Matter
NICHOLAS HALL
Nicholas Hall Speaks — Dancer Amplifies Black Lives Matter
365 WAYS TO KILL AN AMERICAN
365 WAYS TO KILL AN AMERICAN Review – A Jarring and Relevant Vision
NADIA PILLAY
Nadia Pillay Interview – Classical Actress Navigating Whiteness in the Theater World
MISSISSIPPI INNOCENCE PROJECT
LEVON AND KENNEDY: MISSISSIPPI INNOCENCE PROJECT Book Review – Had This Coffee Table Book Been in the 1950’s Home…
Asase Yaa Cultural Arts
Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation Director Of Operations Rubie Inez Williams Speaks — Black Lives Matter
Art
Turgo Bastien — Painter for Peace –Speaks About BLACK LIVES MATTER and More- Interview
MOTHER OF COLOR Filmmaker Interview with Writer/Director Dawn Jones Redstone — Tackling Colonialism
Jamal “Litebulb” Oliver
Era Footwork Crew Co-Founder Jamal “Litebulb” Oliver Speaks — Black Lives Matter
Director Jon Carr on BLACK LIVES MATTER
Dad’s Garage Artistic Director Jon Carr Speaks— Black Lives Matter
AILEY REVEALED
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Presents AILEY REVEALED Review — Celebration of Life and Death
ALL THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY SING Book Review – A Glittering Tapestry of Feminine Recall
Antigone
Classical Theatre of Harlem presents ANTIGONE Review – Making the classics accessible
Strawdog's BARBECUE
Strawdog Theatre Company Presents BARBECUE Review – A Maze of a Tale
Athenaeum Theatre BLACK!
Athenaeum Theatre Productions Presents “BLACK!” Review—A Cluster Analysis of Race Spanning the Pond
BLACK DIVAS
BLACK DIVAZ Film Review—Miss First Nation Drag Queen Pageant 2017
BLOOD AT THE ROOT
Jackalope Theatre Company and The Yard BLOOD AT THE ROOT Review – High School Drama Packs a Social Punch
BREACH
Victory Gardens Theater presents BREACH: A MANIFESTO ON RACE IN AMERICA THROUGH THE EYES OF A BLACK GIRL RECOVERING FROM SELF-HATE Review: Clever Comedy Raises Important Questions
Cycles of My Being
Lyric Unlimited Presents LAWRENCE BROWNLEE in CYCLES OF MY BEING – Poet’s heart on sleeve
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Firebrand Theatre and Timeline Theatre Present CAROLINE, OR CHANGE Review – Magical Lens on Black Realities in ‘60s South
DEFACING MICHAEL JACKSON
Flying Elephant Productions Presents DEFACING MICHAEL JACKSON Review – King of Pop and Adolescent Angst
FREEDOM RIDE
Chicago Opera Theater Presents FREEDOM RIDE Review — Music to Repair the World
THE HEALING
Black Ensemble Theater Presents THE HEALING Review – Human Rights Hit Parade
HIS SHADOW
Sixteenth Street Theater Presents HIS SHADOW Review—Struggle of a Reluctant Hero
HOODED
First Floor Theater presents HOODED, OR BEING BLACK FOR DUMMIES Review: A Deeply Smart and Dark Comedy Hits The Den
KILL MOVE PARADISE
Timeline Theatre Presents KILL MOVE PARADISE Review – Asking WHEN Will We Matter
LA FEMME DANCE FESTIVAL
Red Clay Dance Company presents LA FEMME DANCE FESTIVAL Review – The Black Female Experience
Lest We Forget
LEST WE FORGET Book Review – Thoughtful Annals of Black History
PASS OVER
Steppenwolf Presents PASS OVER Review – Hell of Breathing While Black
PRIZM Art Fair
PRIZM Art Fair 2018 Review – Black Art Matters!
PRIZM Miami 2019
PRIZM 2019 Review – Love in the Time of HYSTERIA
Exploring Race at Chicago History Museum
Chicago History Museum Presents RACE: ARE WE SO DIFFERENT? Review – an exhibit confronting race issues in the US
P.Y.G.
Jackalope Theatre Company presents P.Y.G. OR THE MIS-EDUMACATION OF DORIAN BELLE Review – Daffy Dewokening
Porchlight THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS
Porchlight Music Theatre Presents THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS Review – Guilty Until Proven Innocent
SHEEPDOG
Shattered Globe Theatre presents SHEEPDOG Review – black and blue realities
Topic Streaming Presents SILENT ROSE Review – HS Pressure Cooker
WEDDING BAND
Artistic Home Presents WEDDING BAND—A LOVE/HATE STORY IN BLACK & WHITE
THE FIRST DEEP BREATH
Victory Gardens Theater Presents THE FIRST DEEP BREATH Review – Hold Your Breath for 3 ½ Hours
