Why when I go to see a play ...do I not see African Americans?

Question

As a Jamaican, I love the theatre, pantomine and the arts of all kinds and often wonder why more African Americans do not attend. I attended the theatre in Historic Sanford which is a predominately black area (Oklahoma was the play) and was surprised there was only one other black family present in the crowd. What effect does this have on how African Americans are viewed by white America?

In my mind Sanford FL is synonymous with African American. If it were anywhere else I would not have thought much of it. If I went to see a play somewhere in Harlem or somewhere in Atlanta I expect to see African Americans in the crowd.

People are individuals and there are many good people here in the South. Saying this, I had an incident some years back in Sanford where a decent and fair minded white man addressed me as an equal and his friend objected and completely blew up began shouting the N----- word all over the place. I was working for him through an agency. When I walked out they probably became frightened and called in a commendation to the agency.
I focus on the good people but I have lived long enough to be aware that there is a baser side to human nature. A good play can teach you this...a play such as Oklahoma.

Admittedly, we are a lot more hard edge nowadays and 'Oh What a Beautiful Morning' is not exactly what we are singing post 911. Boring but still a classic.

Real people live in Sanford. The two men I had the incident with were rednecks. At least one of them was married. I have long believed that it was a 'man love' situation, if you know what I mean, and this was the reason for the raw reaction. What do you think?

I hope you understand that real people are uncommercialized and are simply being themselves. They are real and honest and not affraid to speak their mind. They are not house broken like the rest of us living in manicured houses and looking like we just came off the asembly line.

Answer 1

Im black and I love theatre and all kinds of performing arts...I know other blacks who love the theatre...its possible that it does not appeal to them just as it might not appeal to whites, latinos, or asians.....theres no exact reasonings its just cultural differences! also a thing use to be when you went to the theatre, you had money! not saying economically blacks cant afford broadway tickets, but tickets for the theatre has not ever been cheap....

Answer 2

Remember, too, that live theatre--as with so many fields--has only welcomed black artists for a relatively short time. And, there as everywhere, racism persists still.

This is not to say that black communities haven't created and embraced their own forms of theatre. For example, minstrel shows, originally performed by white actors in blackface, were eventually "reclaimed" by the African-American theatre community. Vaudeville, too, has always had a strong black tradition. And we have lots of cool theatre traditions imported from black countries in Africa and around the world--carnavale, many dance & drumming styles, etc.

I teach theatre to students of many different races/ethnicities, and I'm always interested to see how they react to it. One thing I've noticed is that different communities--including different races--have different expectations of how the audience can/should behave at a performance. Some black people (making a big generalization here--) are part of churches and other institutions where audience participation and reaction is encouraged--you know, hollering back at the preacher, or calling "yeah!" or "right on!" at the musicians during some types of concerts.

Traditionally, mainstream American theatre comes with the tradition of silent audiences. (That, too, is a big generalization--but there is truth in it.) Had I been raised in a community where "talking back" was the norm, I might be really uncomfortable being silent and still during a performance. Would I want to attend that kind of show regularly? I doubt it.

Neither racism nor different responses to artists are unique to the theatre world--or even to the art world. Have you read Peggy MacIntyre's fabulous article, "The Invisible Knapsack"? Her thoughts about how African-Americans (and other persons of color) are systemically oppressed by (a largely clueless) White America are right on the money. Theatre is a mirror of life...I think MacIntyre would argue that our racially unequal American theatre is a reflection of a racially unequal *America*.

Thanks for your thought-provoking questions!

Answer 3

Personally, I don't really think it matters how many African Americans in the theatre there are. I mean I see a lot when I go but even if i didn't it wouldn't make me view them negetivly. If your'e talking about racicm then I agree with you that in this day in age people should behave like adults and not discriminate over skin type. You should also ask yourself how many muslims you saw or hispanics or any other kind of race. But from my stand point it doesn't affect my view on African Americans.

Answer 4

I'm a black American. I LOVE musicals and dance theater. I've never been the only black face in the theater but I get your point. It does seem as if many blacks, not all or even most, frown on anything theater related but will go see a movie quickly. I live in a predominantly black city. But rather than focus on the idea that there aren't many blacks in audience, look at the material. Would most blacks relate to it?? I relate to dance theater because I was technically trained in the art of dance. But there are no other plays I enjoy. I HATE those- "Mama I burned the chicken" or "Black men suck/Black women prevail" type movies. I'm probably one of the only people black, white or whatever who enjoyed Rent.

Now, as far as how black Americans are viewed by white America, I would assume white Americans would be indifferent. If they had any feelings about the subject at all, it seems like they'd think "great, no one's here to talk all the way thru". Again, that's if they had any opinion at all. Are black/white relations so strained where white America would have to find something as non essential as whether or not black Americans are into theater, to pick a beef? I certainly hope not, because there other issues more important.

I like hip hop music. It wouldn't bother me one bit if I was the only black person in the audience and everybody around me was white. As long as whoever is around me wanna rock out with me, let's rock on. I recognize there's a difference between the races but rather than try to deny that and lump everybody into one pile, I respect those differences. I don't feel the need to prove myself to white America or even black America to be honest.

Answer 5

It depends on where you live. I've acted professionally across the US in musicals and plays and have seen lots of African Americans in the audience in larger metropolitan areas (like NYC, Chicago, Philly, etc). So you can't generalize why African Americans attend or don't attend theatre nor does this ave any effect on how African Americans are viewed by white folks in America.

Answer 6

I have always wondered this too. I haven't been recently, but I used to have season tickets to the community playhouse and rarely ever saw african americans. I think most of them possibly just have different cultural interests, for the most part.
I guess only they themselves can answer that. Personally, I am whiter than sour cream... so I am not sure I can answer this one.
Good question though.

Answer 7

now why you gotta go there? theres no view.
why is it if a white person is doing something a black person probably has NO interest in doing, why are the white people ALWAYS to blame?
see, this is why we cant move on and get along.
because the black people are ALWAYS complaining! OJ Simpson murdered his white wife and got away with it. what effect does this have on how white americans are viewed by african americans? hmmm....

Answer 8

Most theatrical acts do not appeal to us African Americans.

Some acts such as a Tyler Perry play do, but other than that, I wouldn't expect too many of us at a theatrical act........

Answer 9

Who cares what White America thinks.
White America will always vies African-Americans negatively regaurdless of anything.

Plays are the least of our concern.

Answer 10

most plays are boring