Canadian theatres are staging plays for black audience members only, with one ensuring white people are lectured by staff if they attempt to attend the shows.
Both the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and Theatre Passe Muraille (Theatre Beyond Walls) in Toronto, are set to hold “Black Out” events, an idea started in Broadway in 2019, where the theatres would provide a “dedicated” space to black audiences “to Black Audiences to come and experience performances with their community.”
The NAC is committed to creating a welcoming experience of the performing arts for all Canadians. A key barrier to participation, as identified in Canadian research (Culture Track 2018), is the perception that the arts are “not for people like me.” pic.twitter.com/9tkkKFKmOt
— National Arts Centre (@CanadasNAC) January 30, 2023
While the NAC described their Black Out performance of “Is God Is” as being “dedicated to Black audiences,” the Theatre Passe Muraille went further, and said that their performances of “Okay you can stop now” and “X and Da Spirit,” written about the Black Lives Matter protests, were “exclusively” for black people.
“When you enter the theatre ‘house,’ the audience will be comprised only of Black audience members,” Theatre Passe Muraille confirmed. While anyone who self-identified as “Black” would be “welcome” to attend, they would do their best to exclude any white people from attending, despite racial discrimination being illegal under Canadian laws.
“If someone self-identifies as a non-Black person and demands to enter the room, a member of our staff will be present to chat with this person,” they said. “We try our best to have this labour land on a non-Black staff member and we will have non-Black front-of-house, leadership, or technical and production team members present in the lobby to help de-escalate such situations.”
Professor Jordan Peterson was one of many to criticise the black only audience policy. “How black do you have to be?” Peterson wrote on Twitter. “I believe my wife tested 3% of African descent using 23 And Me. Is that enough? Perhaps she could wave her hand through the door…”
For shame @CanadasNAC. Truly. Can't you see where this will go? Do you want to go there?
— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) January 24, 2023
Following the backlash, Annabelle Cloutier, the executive director for strategy and communications for the NAC, claimed that the Ottawa theatre does not have any “racially segregated shows” available, moving away from any claims of exclusivity.
“Of the nine performances of Is God Is, we have dedicated one performance to those who self-identify as Black and their guests,” she said. “No one will be turned away at the door; there will be no checkpoints for Black Out Night ticket holders and no questions will be asked about anyone’s identity or race.”
Quillette journalist Jonathan Kay had noted that when attempting to buy tickets on Ticketmaster for the NAC performance, customers were warned that the performance was “exclusively for Black audiences,” like the Theatre Passe Muraille shows.
But it was later confirmed to Canadian outlet “True North” that the description on Ticketmaster had been changed to remove the exclusivity notice, and once again declaring that it was open to anyone “Black-identifying.”
UPDATE: The @CanadasNAC has tightened up the admission requirements for its upcoming race-segregated performance. It's no longer "black-identifying." It's now "black," full stop. So don't even think about going if you're, say, Indigenous, Asian, white, etc. https://t.co/eSIKQrZHdf pic.twitter.com/i2fp1CJSmr
— Jonathan Kay (@jonkay) January 24, 2023
Shifter, a Canadian magazine that celebrates black culture, stood by the racially discriminatory events.
“Any attempt at carving out a dedicated space for racialised communities is often labelled by some as ‘racist’ and counterproductive to this Utopian kumbaya idea of all people getting along (despite the fact many individuals still don’t like Black people; even among people of colour),” the magazine wrote.
Moparguy
February 2, 2023 at 5:03 am
Nothing like stoking a little racism right.
Daniel
February 2, 2023 at 6:55 am
That’s okay, white people won’t notice. We’re not going to the movies anymore and that’s why Hollywood lost half a trillion dollars last year. Keep it up, is all I have to say.
Paul
February 2, 2023 at 8:24 am
Exactly see if theaters, restaurants whatever type of business who pander to the black race can survive without white people.
Rattlerjake
February 2, 2023 at 12:07 pm
Why would any white person care about going to an all black production anyways?
Daniel
February 2, 2023 at 6:57 am
Even our Regal/ IMAX cinema is closing down. Sie La Vie
Rick Conner
February 2, 2023 at 8:10 am
I have thought about doing things like this except for “whites only”. It has never gotten beyond just a thought because I’m not a racist like these folks.
CPO Bill
February 2, 2023 at 8:31 am
Keep the white dictator trudumb out too!
Roland
February 2, 2023 at 9:14 am
It is a shame that Canada is turning into a toilet. when I was young I used to be impressed with Canada and enjoyed visiting it. But now the way that they have changed you could not drag me there in chains.
Barton, J
February 3, 2023 at 1:06 am
America is just a few years behind Canada. It’s already happening here. What’s really ironic is that people think this will help race relations, when in fact they’re really just saying the flames of racism, then call others who call them on this, racists.
Barton, J
February 3, 2023 at 1:07 am
* Stoking the flames of racism
John
February 2, 2023 at 9:49 am
You know, I grew up in a project and I’m white, some of my best friends and worst enemies were black but that’s no different than living with all white people. You’re going to have good and bad no matter what color you are.
Most of my friends to this day are black and the government push too fire up racism and segregation has created problems with society. Before they started pushing their hate on the people race was something that rarely reared it’s head because we’re passed civil rights and our country has grown so much in the last SIXTY YEARS color just wasn’t something people rallied their lives about. Sadly this push to create hate has brought many, both white and black back decades. I haven’t lost a single black friend due to the nonsense that has gotten to the point where after fighting so hard to eliminate segregation it’s actually being brought back and considered. Unlike the true racist Biden, I’ve actually gone to black church and it’s something that’s been missing in all our lives for far too long. Ignore the propaganda and stop acting like fools because it’s not black against white Or white against black it’s us against them.
Drosack
February 2, 2023 at 10:20 am
LOL
anarchyst
February 2, 2023 at 10:24 am
Freedom of association is indeed the “freedom to “discriminate”. What’s wrong with that??
Any business that discriminates will possibly lose business. We should have the freedom to associate (or not) with whoever we choose. However, with the passage of the (unconstitutional) so-called “civil-rights (for some)” acts, “freedom of association” has been abolished and replaced with (unconstitutional) “public accommodation” statutes…
Just as “gated communities” and “homeowner associations” are responses to the abolition of “restrictive covenants” and “fair housing” abuses, businesses operating as “private clubs” are on the horizon and will become more common as abuses under color of “civil-rights (for some”) laws proliferate.
We “discriminate” every day–choose who we associate with, to buy “brand x” instead of “brand y”…the word “discrimination” has been given a “bad rap”, unjustifiably…
If I choose to discriminate on any basis, it is MY decision…and is not negotiable…
NO “civil-rights (for some)” law can change that…since our esteemed “attorney general” and other race-baiters have declared that “civil-rights” protections DO NOT APPLY to whites, and that only whites can be racist, I see no need to comply with ANY civil-rights laws. As far as I am concerned, constitutional rights trump civil-rights every time…
bob
February 2, 2023 at 10:44 am
Now see ,,,,,, all the vine climbing tree swingers will be fine with this ,, but if a theatre was going to promote a show for WHITES only ,,, the watermelon pickers would have a meltdown !!!!!! Gig should go both ways .
Rose
February 2, 2023 at 4:16 pm
Every Theater in a DemoRat Governor or Mayor is Directly tied to RADICAL LEFT and there is not a MOVIE or the Price U to pay for that is worthwhile to go too. I would RENT a DVD and watch it in the Comfort of my own Home. 22 He’ll with the Slobs in Hollywood !!
Chuck Price
February 2, 2023 at 5:04 pm
Who cares? I wouldn’t go to their plays in the first place. None the less it is just reverse racism. 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
Truth_Seeker!
February 2, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Interesting how not learning from history certainly does repeat history! So now we are heading back into separation of the races, classes and such from certain places and such. Society reverting backwards!
Tarheel
February 2, 2023 at 5:42 pm
I can only imagine the uproar That would ensue if only whites were allowed into a theater, no Black. It’s too bad there is not a theater across the street that would invoke that very theme. Of course the race card would be pulled without any comprehension of the hypocrisy.
Andrew
February 3, 2023 at 1:01 am
If you want segregation, you just have to ask. I will gladly shop at all white places from now on. You racist pricks.
Jonathan Sherk
February 3, 2023 at 1:23 am
“…and production team members present in the lobby to help de-escalate such situations.”
— So they know that people will call this racism, but continue anyways? Isn’t this illegal? Are there plays for whites? No, because that would be racist. I just don’t understand how people are supposed to move beyond the color of one’s skin, when that’s exactly what they’re doing.
— ” Sir, can you please remove your hoodie? I need to see the color of your skin. ”
UnFuckingBelievable!!!
FuckJustinTredeau
February 3, 2023 at 1:44 am
Interesting how the last paragraph specifically states that white people don’t like black people, and uses this excuse for segregation. So essentially, you’re saying that because some people don’t like blacks, that is okay to be racists to everyone. If this is how blacks feel about whites, then maybe we should segregate. Blacks go to black places, whites go to white places, and anyone stuck in between, whatever, because hey, it’s okay to be racists now.
Blondie
February 3, 2023 at 4:12 am
Great! Everything was fine when there was segregation & not much crime.
Let it be. Maybe we can live in peace, again.
george
February 3, 2023 at 5:56 am
the jiggers and pedos are taking over, more every day. movies, t.s. and even fucking commercials are mostly all black now. white folks are on an endangers list and we all should declare war. not only on grubment, but on the so called entertainment companies for forcing their blm shit on us,