The Shadow Players and Black Lives Matter
To our community and our members:
Following the tragic and senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many more black lives, we cannot be silent.
We at The Shadow Players are proud to stand and say Black Lives Matter.
It is heartbreaking that we have to fight to say “matter.” In reality, Black lives more than “matter.” Black lives should be celebrated. Black lives should be loved. Black lives should be honored. Black lives should be revered.
Our goal at The Shadow Players has always been to create a space where anyone from any background can come and create meaningful art together. In committing ourselves to this mission, we have a responsibility to take action and commit to practicing anti-racism every day. We acknowledge that the theater as we know it has existed for centuries as a privileged art form intended for privileged audiences, often profiting from systemic racism and black trauma. We commit to doing our part as an organization, as small as we may be, to change that and to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our own company.
To our patrons and audiences, you have a part to play as well. We ask that you take action with us in dismantling racism in all its forms: protest, sign petitions, write your local/state/federal officials, support BIPOC-owned businesses, volunteer, read, reflect, have difficult conversations, vote! In lieu of monetary donations to our company this season, we ask that you please direct those contributions to the artists and organizations below:
https://naacpbaltimore.org/
https://blacklivesmatter.com/
https://centerforblackequity.org/baltimore/
The space in which we create will always remain one where Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) can feel safe and confident. We see you. We hear you. We believe you. We welcome you. We stand with you, always.
In solidarity,
The Shadow Players
