Mackenzie McGrath, Campus Carrier asst. arts and living editor
The power of theatre lies in its ability to mirror society, challenge perceptions and give voice to stories often left unheard. The art of theatre has become a vital lens for exploring history, identity and culture through the unique experiences of Black individuals. Berry and the theatre department have created a unique academic opportunity to explore this lens. Visiting theatre Assistant Professor of Fine Arts and Theatre Jennifer Bradford teaches a ‘Theatre From the Black Perspective’ class in the Blackstone Theatre three days a week.
“As a black woman in theatre herself, she impacts our learning by often drawing attention to predominately Black plays or plays about the Black experience that have aspects and themes within them that we may have missed while reading,” junior Theatre major Amerial Page said.
Bradford feels that teaching this course allows students to remain deeply connected to the ongoing, historically significant contributions of Black performers in American theater, television and film.
“She speaks to our majority white class with a perspective and guidance that encourages empathy and approaches things in a different way,” freshman communication major Savannah Talley said. “If it were a white professor, it would not be nearly as impactful as someone who doesn’t have first-hand experience with the topics we cover in our plays.”
By studying the works of specific playwrights, analyzing world premieres and examining the individuals involved in these productions—such as directors, design teams and performers—students are able to trace the impact of Black artists in these spaces. Bradford notes that by focusing on these contributions, students can always find a few recognizable names that still resonate in today’s stage, TV and film industries. Students describe the course as being a part of a vibrant community of technicians and performers who are dedicated to getting Black plays on stage. Learning the material presented in this class helps them stay engaged with Black voices in the theatrical community. This experience has expanded the students’ perspective, enriching their search for representation of both themselves and the broader human experience.
“These particular plays cover topics like the American dream, the working class, spirituality and a lot of our American history. We get into some laws and how those have changed, particular neighborhoods and relationships, specifically around Black love- we’ll talk about everything in these plays,” Bradford said. “There’s a lot of stuff that gets covered in the plays because the playwrights have chosen to put it in there. Just putting it in the student’s hands and in their paths opens up bigger conversations that you may not get in other literature, history or performance classes. There’s magical realism in some things. There’s metaphor and bigger themes. It’s a good class to get a wide breadth of information about how we’ve contributed to the American fabric as Black people.”
Bradford taught this course before at a separate college, and she was ecstatic to learn that Berry was open to the idea of providing the class. While the majority of the class are theatre majors, there is also a wide variety of people and backgrounds interested in learning about the history of Black theatre.
“I mainly joined the course because I dream of becoming a figure in film or TV that brings out the stories and voices of those who have not been able to share their stories,” Page said. “Learning about how these plays came to be, the process of creating them, what they entail and how the public viewed them during their release is something I find very helpful for my career and overall intriguing.”
Bradford emphasizes the critical importance of studying Black theatre, highlighting how much of American history–and history in general–stems from the Black experience and the stories that have shaped the world as we know it. She emphasizes that Black plays provide essential answers to societal questions that many people seek.
“The most interesting thing I have learned was that the characters in our plays tied to their heritage and their ancestral stories,” Page said. “I grew up with my own understanding of what Black culture means to my family, however, with these characters you can see what culture means to them, and there are so many different variations of this experience.”
Not every student in Bradford’s class has a cultural relevance to the subject matter, but the diversity of background is what aids in the classroom culture. Every student brings their own traditions, customs, and worldview of theatre to the discussion. Those students can then take what they have learned and apply it to their experience in theatre, hopefully impacting another person’s perspective.
Bradford’s approach to teaching Black theatre challenges students to deeply engage with the complexities of the Black experience in America.
“There’s so many expressions of joy, love, family and cultural elements that vibrate in the Black community that comes through in studying theatre from a Black perspective and from a Black lens,” Bradford said. “There’s a draw to it that, whether acknowledged or not, the Black experience in America is tapped into consistently and constantly. So give yourself a moment to pause and to really reflect, review and seek understanding. To remain curious about artists who are Nobel Prize winners, or Pulitzer Prize winners who are prominent on the stage now that are tapping into the conversations we really need to have.”
The course not only highlights the significance of Black contributions to the arts but also provides a platform for exploring broader societal themes that continue to shape the cultural landscape. Ultimately, Bradford’s class cultivates a space where diverse perspectives are valued and the conversation about race, culture and representation can continue to evolve.