“If I were a primarily white institution, I’d want to know about this.”

She went on to say that if schools and other institutions truly want to promote diversity and inclusion, programs such as Black Faces in White Spaces will be valuable tools and help to better implement practices and policies to retain students of color. “If folks say they’re making efforts to support people in the Black community, then this is a great opportunity for schools to hear firsthand,” said Debbie Hall, founder of the Worcester Black History Project. Kimberly Toney of WBHP will moderate and deliver the questions webinar style, for the approximately hourlong discussion. Nicole Overstreet (Clark University), Professor Maria O'Brien (Boston University School of Law), Shanez'e Johnson (Wellesley College) and Xaulanda Thorpe (Boston University) all studied and worked at well known schools that fit the PWI definition. The panelists will be two professors and two students, who will share the experiences of Black Americans in predominantly white institutions (PWIs), particularly higher education and academia. June 17, the night before the play opens, WBHP will host 'Black Faces in White Spaces,' a live panel discussion. Observing 'The Niceties': WCLOC strives to reflect real world world with BrickBox showĪt 7 p.m. “Not just the casting and outreach but also ways to expand the programming beyond just the play itself.”

“Worcester Black History Project was invited to be a collaborator and partner in this,” said Cecilia Hylton, a member of the WBHP who supports the play and relevant communications. For the Worcester County Light Opera production at the BrickBox Theater, additional programming was deemed appropriate in the form of a pre-play panel discussion and a post-play talk back with the actors. The audience would gain context and better understand the value of the lived experiences in the socio-cultural frame of reference. Rather than a disagreement in points of view, it becomes a vital discussion about race, history and power. In the play, a Black student at a liberal arts college is called into her white professor’s office to discuss her paper about slavery’s effect on the American Revolution. 'The Niceties' is more than a theater production - it is representative of authentic lived experiences.

Black faces in white spaces