‘If you are going to treat someone like a human’: White supremacy and performance programmes in Northern California’s correctional facilities

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Research in Drama Education

Volume

26

Issue

3

DOI

10.1080/13569783.2021.1944804

First Page

511

Last Page

527

Abstract

This study draws on the experiences of eleven individuals working for six organisations in Northern California to identify ways White supremacist ideals operate in performance-related programmes in correctional facilities. The inquiry examines the experience of teaching artist/facilitators (TAFs) of colour; White TAF’s (in)ability to reflect on the impact of their racial identity in the classroom/workshop; and the racism inherent in institutional prohibitions against ‘familiarity’ between workshop facilitators and participants. The essay concludes with recommendations for how artists and arts organisations can better engage in anti-racist practices with an eye towards eradicating racism at the personal, organisational, and institutional levels.

Keywords

incarceration, prison theatre, teaching artists, White supremacy

Department

Communication Studies

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