A message of solidarity and action
Black Lives Matter Antiracist Action
To the Hedgepig Community:
I write to you with deep griefs — grief for centuries of senseless murder, grief for ongoing national trauma, and grief for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and too, too many more lives.
Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre stands in solidarity with protesters across the country in rebellion against inequality and injustice. Against white supremacy. Against constant, cruel, and systemically upheld police brutality against our Black sisters, brothers, and siblings. We hear the pain, grief, and exhaustion of our Black artists, community members, and friends. We join the outcry:
Black Lives Matter
!
To quote Angela Davis, “
In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.
”
We trade silence and complicity for antiracist action. We call on all members of our community to use their voices actively against systemic racism and white supremacy.
— and don’t stop there. We encourage you to join or create an
antiracist accountability group
. If you would like to join ours,
(more information below).
Our specific anti-racist actions include:
A requirement for all ensemble and Board members to engage in anti-racism and anti-bias training.
Inviting in other classical companies and individuals to join us in our anti-racism accountability group, committing to educate ourselves and stand for and challenge our community.
An audit of our vendors to ensure they follow antiracist policies.
A commitment to increase our engagement of BIPOC in our ensemble, Board, casts, and production teams by 25% in 2021 to better reflect the community of NYC.
A re-dedication to Expand the Canon and including plays by BIPOC writers.
I acknowledge that Hedgepig as an organization is late to take effective action, and that I, as its Artistic Director and as a white woman, have much to learn. What I know is that theater is a tool for understanding, empathy, and bringing people together. As an industry, community, and ensemble, we must be luminary in the fight against racism. As an organization, we must re-examine our inner-workings and assumptions.
We invite you to
. We will work through Bryanna Wallace & Autumn Gupta’s “
” 10-minute/day curriculum followed by Layla F Saad’s “
” with accountability check-ins and Zoom meetups.
.
To the Black members of the Hedgepig community: We are ready to have this uncomfortable conversation that is long overdue for us as a nation and as an industry.
We are ready to listen and learn. We stand in solidarity with you, now and always.
If you have thoughts, we invite that connection through email, Facebook, Instagram, or
.
Mary Candler
Artistic Director, Hedgepig Ensemble