RACE IS THE PLACE
RACE IS THE PLACE
Funny, angry and profound, RACE IS THE PLACE is a 60-minute verbal and visual riff on race and racism in America, featuring a wide range of artists, poets, rappers, performance artists and stand-up comics from minority communities. You’ll meet established artists as well as up-and-comers, along with racially-charged images and clips from old movies and performances that dare to examine the most explosive issue in American life. It yanks off the muzzle of political correctness to speak the often-ugly truths that lie beneath the rosy talk of diversity, inclusion and multiculturalism.
Watch a short trailer. . . .
In RACE IS THE PLACE poet and playwright Amiri Baraka offers a running commentary on language, truth and beauty… complemented by Ahmed Ahmed’s wry humor on the joys of flying as an Arab American, Danny Hoch's biting monologue about a harassed Bronx street vendor, Hawaiian poet Haunani-Kay Trask's angry meditation on American imperialism, James Luna’s street performance questioning assumptions of how Native American are perceived and Kate Rigg's explosive rap about the stereotyping of Asian women. Other performers include Lalo Guerrero, Culture Clash, Barry “Shabaka” Henley, Mayda del Valle, Beau Sia, Andy Bumatai, Boots Riley, Piri Thomas and Michael Franti.
Also featured is the work of visual artists Faith Ringgold, Betye Saar, Michael Ray Charles, Ben Sakoguchi, Enrique Chagoya, and Paula deJoie. The original soundtrack was composed and performed by Jon Jang and Wayne Wallace.
Produced in 2005, RACE IS THE PLACE is now more relevant than ever.
Probing, entertaining and thought-provoking, it engages the heart and soul as well as the mind. It is food for thought