Tag: Racism

Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment Book Review

For better or worse, the entertainment of a period reflects the culture and values of the audience, the team behind the scenes, and the performers.

Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment was published earlier this year. Written by Rhae Lynn Barnes, the book explores the history of blackface in America. It is a comprehensive exploration of this character type and how it became part of the pop culture landscape for several generations. She also talks about the slow fade from acceptance to general disapproval in the last half of the 20th century.

The most interesting fact (which makes a lot of sense) is that both Jewish Americans and Japanese Americans (specifically in the internment camps) both put on blackface. Looking back, it is easy to see how they were trying to show how “American” they were while discrediting their darker-skinned neighbors.

Do I recommend it? Yes. It is a must read.

Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment is available wherever books are sold.

Chinese Republicans Play Review

It amazes me what some will do to climb the corporate ladder.

The new play, Chinese Republicans, by Alex Lin, follows four Chinese-American women who are all employed by the same investment firm in New York City. Phyllis (Jodi Long) integrated the company’s C-Suite. Her mentee, Ellen (Jennifer Ikeda), has put her personal life on hold for the sake of her career. Iris (Jully Lee) needs to keep her job to stay in the country. Katie (Anna Zavelson) is a twenty-something who has yet to be let down by the system.

This play is brilliant. Each woman is like a puzzle piece. They have their own story and struggle, yet fit together perfectly. Lin’s ending is perfect because it is a harsh reminder that we live in a world where Caucasian men still hold most of the cards.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Chinese Republicans is playing until April 5th, 2026. Check the website for tickets and showtimes.

Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage Book Review

In Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, Yoda says the following:

Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.

On December 22nd, 1984, Bernhard Goetz stepped into New York City history. After four black teenagers approached him, he shot at them point-blank. The story of this day, what led to it, and the aftermath is told in the new book Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage. Written by Heather Ann Thompson, the author makes clear that Goetz was clearly guilty of the crime for which he was accused.

But the press (as they are wont to do) spun the story as they saw fit. Depending on the perspective of the editorial team, he was either a hero who deserved a medal or a racist vigilante, shooting four young boys because of their skin color.

My biggest takeaway is that although we are forty-plus years removed from that day, its effects are still felt today. Perhaps even more so due to the more extreme political rift than existed in the 1980s. Although there has been marked improvement in overcoming the social justice issues of past decades, we still have a long way to go.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage is available wherever books are sold.

New Randy Rainbow Video: Lyin’ and Spinnin’ (and Cheatin’ and Hidin’) – A Randy Rainbow Song Parody

P.S. I don’t know what’s worse about the current administration: POTUS or those around him. Either they have drunk the Kool-Aid, or they have turned a blind eye just to stay in power.

Ragtime Broadway Review

Times may change, but human beings remain the same.

The new revival of Ragtime is playing at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York City. It is based on the book of the same name by E.L. Doctorow. In the early 20th century, three families collide with American history. In New Rochelle, Mother (Caissie Levy) is the matriarch of a comfortable WASP family. She is content to let her husband take control.

In Harlem, Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Joshua Henry) is a charismatic musician. Love (via a young woman named Sarah (Nichelle Lewis)) and racism will forever alter his fate. Tateh (Brandon Uranowitz) is a Jewish immigrant from Latvia and a widower. He has come to America to give his daughter a new life. Mingling with these fictional characters are historical figures from the era. Among them is Emma Goldman (Julie Benko, who will be temporarily taking over from Shaina Taub until April) and Harry Houdini (Rodd Cyrus).

Ragtime is amazing. I was fortunate enough to have the original production. While other revivals fail to live up to their predecessors, this one cements the show’s legacy. There were several standing ovations even before the actors finished the scene.

It is almost Shakespearean in scope. The characters are thoroughly human, and the ending, though it is sort of happy, comes from tragedy and heartbreak.

My kudos go to the costume department, who, via a choice of different color pallets, were able to differentiate the three communities until the audience could come to know them.

What strikes me is that though the story is set more than a century ago, the themes and characters are relevant today as they were then. I would not be surprised if Ragtime did very well come award season.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely. Do not miss this one.

Ragtime is playing at the Lincoln Center Theater until June 14th, 2026. Check the website for tickets and showtimes.

Laowang: A Chinatown King Lear Play Review

Shakespeare is one of the writers whose work remains relevant because his characters, at heart, deal with the human condition, warts and all.

Laowang: A Chinatown King Lear, by Alex Lin, is an adaptation of King Lear. A-Poh/Margaret Choy (Wai Ching Ho) is the owner of a Chinese restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown whose heyday is long gone. Wesley Chiu (Daisuke Tsuji) is a developer who wants to buy the building. Before making a decision, A-Poh brings in her three grandchildren for a family meeting. Amy (Cindy Cheung), Steven (Jon Norman Schneider), and Lai-Fa (Amy Keum) all want a piece of the final sale. On top of this major decision, A-Poh starts to exhibit signs of dementia, making them even more cutthroat.

At a crisp 90 minutes, this play is to the point, stripped down, universal, and brilliant. A-Poh is a woman who has worked hard to keep her business going and support her family. Knowing that is all in the past makes the downfall that much harder for all involved.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Laowang: A Chinatown King Lear is playing at 59 E 59 Theaters in New York City until tomorrow. Check the website for tickets and showtimes.

Meet the Cartozians Play Review

Humans, if nothing else, are predictable creatures.

Meet the Cartozians is the new play by Talene Monahon. Based on a true story, it follows an Armenian-American family set in two different periods: the 1920s and the 2020s. A century ago, the patriarch of the Cartozian clan was on the abyss of being sent back to his country of birth due to a question of being “white”. In our time, one of their descendants has become a world-famous reality star (a la Kim Kardashian). The rest continue the debate about skin color, identity, and the impact of the Armenian Genocide generations after the massacre.

It is essentially two stories in one. The first act is flawless. It is both of its era and also relevant in 2025 (which is frankly frightening). The second act is mostly unfocused and lacks a cohesive narrative. It’s not a bad thing that the ending is not neatly tied up. The questions that Monahon asks are important. But it was not a smooth landing and required another pass at the script.

The acting is fantastic. Each performer plays two completely different people in such a way that I had to question if it was the same person from the first half.

Do I recommend it? Maybe.

Meet the Cartozians is currently playing at the Second Stage, the Pershing Square Signature Center, until December 14th, 2025. Check the website for tickets and showtimes.

Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America Book Review

I’ve spoken on this blog several times about a dear friend of mine who had to end their pregnancy last year for serious health reasons. It was devastating for all involved (myself included). They were looking forward to the new addition to their family.

Looking back, two aspects of this tale stand out. This person is Caucasian and lives in blue New York City with multiple medical institutions nearby, should there be an issue. Other pregnant people in the same situation are not so fortunate. This problem is laid out in Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America, by Irin Carmon. It was published last month.

The author, a journalist by trade, followed five women across the country as they navigated the health system and the ups and downs that come with being an expectant parent.

This book is a searing indictment of the American health system. If you are a person of color (and/or live in a city/state where resources are limited due to politics or other reasons), the death rate is higher than patients with lighter skin.

There are some in this country who claim to support families and children. If their actions matched their words, they would do everything possible to limit maternal mortality during childbirth. Instead, it’s the usual empty phrases with nothing behind them.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely. Do not miss this one.

Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America is available wherever books are sold.

Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging Book Review

Depending on one’s perspective, religion can feel restricting. The rules are the rules are the rules, and there is no getting around it. If someone chooses to go their own way, the consequences could be dire.

Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging, is the new memoir by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl. It was published in October. Rabbi Buchdahl is a representative of the modern Jewish community. Her mother comes from a Korean Buddhist family, and her father is an American Jew. Mostly raised in the Jewish tradition, she felt an early calling to take on the title of Rabbi.

Challenged by the idea of what a Jewish lay leader is due to her gender and mixed-race heritage, Rabbi Buchdahl has become a popular figure as the Rabbi of the Central Synagogue in New York City. Her tale is part memoir and part examination of the difficult events of the last few years.

The Rabbi is at the crossroads of Judaism in 2025. To the outside world, she is a Jew, no questions asked. But in a traditional sense, she is not MOT because her mother was not born to a Jewish family and never converted.

I think she represents where our faith needs to go to survive. The Rabbi has a deep respect for everything that the religion stands for. But, she also recognizes that the only way that future generations continue to practice is that we remain mutable to a certain degree.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging is available wherever books are sold.

Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story Documentary Review

Falling in love can sometimes feel arbitrary. Your other half may be a person that you could have never predicted.

Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story was recently released on Netflix. Princess Märtha Louise is the only daughter of the King and Queen of Norway. Durek Verrett is an American self-proclaimed shaman. Like Meghan and Harry before them, the doubters were not shy in sharing their opinions. The documentary recounts their courtship and the days leading up to their 2024 wedding.

A skeptic would easily point out that Verrett is taking advantage of Märtha Louise. A believer could rebut that this is romantic love in its purest form. For me, it is a compelling tale of two people from two different worlds who found each other and found a way to make it work.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story is available for streaming on Netflix.

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