I Played a Black Character on stage in School (let's discuss...)

In high school I performed a monologue from the works of August Wilson, in which I portrayed a black guy who experienced racism. So, yeah, we need to talk about this...

Join us on Discord:   / discord  

Follow me on Patreon:   / pileybenton  

Follow me on Twitter at:   / pileybenton  

Subscribe to my gaming channel:    / @pileybentonplays8952  

Music Credits go to my boy Cameron Houg and the YouTube Music Library

Cartoon depictions of myself are drawn by none other than Bentley S. Campion

Footnotes:
[1] This quote used to pack a punch, until recent declassified documents reveal the FBI had a heavy hand in orchestrating Malcom's assassination, which kinda takes away from the intended weight of the "black people killed Malcolm" speech.
[2] Just so I'm clear: I don't think this hypothetical would be a good reason for white people to do these monologues either. If August Wilson's plays were exclusively the stories of black people whose monologues were textually non-specific to their blackness, I still would argue it's in bad taste for white people to perform them due to the subtextual nature of the characters and because of the opportunities you'd be taking from black people. But I can see why other people (perhaps even some black liberals) would think it's okay for white kids to perform those monologues. So please, know that I'm not voicing support for this "other part of the conversation, I'm just acknowledging some people probably feel that way.

Clips of monologues for your viewing pleasure:
Rose from Fences    • Fences (2016) - The Same Spot As You Scene...  
Levee from Ma Rainey's Black Bottom    • Levees agony - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2...  

0:00 Opening tease
0:20 Introduction
1:09 August Wilson
3:40 Seattle's August Wilson Monologue Competition
6:45 Yes, this is STILL blackface
10:30 Taking Opportunities
12:25 What August Wilson meant to this suburban white kid
14:16 Equitable Casting
15:51 Conclusion
16:32 Outro