🚀 go-pugleaf

The Yale Secondary School production of Show Boat opens at the
Abbottsford Arts Centre on Wednesday February 17th at 7:30 p.m. The
following recent press release outlines some reasons for our opposition.

Press Release 
For Immediate Release						February 8, 1999

ABBOTFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
STUDENTS TO LEARN
SYSTEMIC RACISM FIRST HAND.

Anti-racism organizations and people opposed to "Showboat" are outraged
to learn that Abbotsford School District Elementary school students will
be learning "racist attitudes" first hand by attending the upcoming
matinee performances of Showboat by Yale Secondary School in Abbotsford.

The stage show "Showboat" uses offensive language and racial slurs such
as "nigger" as well as other racially-loaded terminology. The depiction
will also show people of African descent in stereotypical roles as
happy-go-lucky singers and dancers. This production fails to provide any
educational context whatsoever about the history of slavery and racism
in the United States and Canada and instead teaches children an
incorrect, stereotypical, racist message about people of African
descent.

To add insult to injury, White high school actors will have their faces
"coloured", "tinted", "black faced" to play the roles in the play
originally played by actors of African descent. Appearing in "black
face" is disrespectful and hurtful to persons of African heritage -
several of whom attend Yale Senior Secondary School. Painting white
faces black is racist.

Traditionally we have looked to our schools to provide leadership in
areas of anti-bias and anti-racism education through their zero
tolerance polices. Instead the Abbotsford School District has shown us
their true colour - their Multiculturalism and Race Relations policies
are only worth the paper they are printed on. 

If Show Boat does not get canceled, we would like to have everybody who
is against it, standing in front of the Centre on opening night, handing
out educational materials.  Our goal will be to highlight the struggles
and accomplishments of people of African descent who have lived or are
living in Canada... from our perspective!

The City of Abbottsford has been informed of our proposed activities and
have indicated that it is okay, provided that the event "would be
conducted in a safe, quiet, peaceful, and orderly manner on public
property".  The Abbottsford Arts Centre, including the parking area, is
considered the private property of School District No. 34, which means
that we would have to obtain their permission to distribute materials on
their property.  A letter has been sent to the school board requesting
same but we will be restricted to the sidewalk if they refuse.

Carrying picket signs, posters etc. is permitted and if they are visible
and tastefully done it could help to draw attention to what we are
doing.  Press releases will go out first thing next week and the media
has already expressed interest.  Just bring your signs on the night of
the event.

We should plan to meet at the front of the Abbotsford Arts Centre on
Wednesday, February 17th at 6:30pm

Please reply to this email with any questions.

Roger B. Jones
President, Black Cultural Association