Today we’d like to introduce you to Celia Mandela-Rivera, Tiana Randall-Quant and A’raelle Flynn-Bolden.
Hi Celia, Tiana and A’raelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
BLKLST was created and founded by an intersectional group of Black, brown and allied theatremakers and storytellers. We came together for the advancement and security of those creating theatre in the greater Los Angeles area and to reimagine a more equitable future for all.
The summer of 2020 brought a new call for change across all areas of our society. The murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor (SAY THEIR NAMES), combined with the long legacy of BIPOC lives violently taken by the police, made us focus more intentionally on the many injustices brought on by white supremacist ideals and systems put in place that serve to maintain an inequitable hierarchy.
As this national zeitgeist pierced every industry, a magnifying glass was put on the theatre industry. Marginalized theatremakers demanded an end to the long-standing racist practices and discrimination that still plagues arts administration, casting practices, hiring practices, lack of board equity, content .programming, and education departments. As this organization is made up of primarily BIPOC theatremakers, we are more than familiar with this culture of discrimination and exploitation, and we seek to abolish the oppressive systems that sustain it. In its place, we look to aid in the creation of a culture of anti-racism and accountability by providing an actionable method for accountability.
The BLKLST compiles pertinent information on theatre companies and institutions of the greater Los Angeles area. The creation of this glossary is inspired largely by Victor Hugo Green’s “Negro Motorist Green Book: A safety guide for Negro Travelers”, a tool used by people of color to traverse this white supremacist nation safely.
While the Green Book tracked where it was safe for people of color to find rest and recreation during their travels, BLKLST tracks where safety and value may or may not lie for BIPOC folks and other marginalized theatremakers, based on information that’s publicly available and by also asking institutions to share certain data that relates to anti-racism and equity progress.
Along with the Los Angeles Anti-Racist Theatre Standards, BLKLST looks to ensure that theatres in our city, our home are making the steps needed to ensure equitable theatre environments and practices. We use these standards as a working guide in establishing change within.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been fulfilling for the most part. Building this community and growing closer together in ways we didn’t even know were possible has been the most fulfilling experience.
But upon our first unveiling, we were called ‘terrorists, ‘communists,’ and the like. These were names hurled at us by some of the most well-respected theatre heads in Los Angeles. We couldn’t believe it. We were also kept from certain meetings/circles with an assumed intent of gatekeeping. It was momentarily disheartening but emboldened our purpose and confirmed we were on the right path.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
BLKLST was created and co-founded by a triumvirate of artists and creatives. We are ALL self-prescribed good troublemakers and look to enact our good trouble in ways that will lead to progress within our field.
Celia Mandela-Rivera (she/her) | Creator and Co-Founder
Celia is an actor, director, educator and currently acts as Literary Manager at IAMA Theatre. She is a USC Alum, a co-drafter of the Los Angles Anti-Racist Theatre Standards and has an expansive resume that continues to grow.
Tiana Randall-Quant (she/they) | Co-Founder
Tiana is an actor, writer, community facilitator and social media maven. She is a Berkeley Alum, is a co-drafter of the Los Angeles Anti-Racist Theatre Standards, and Co-Founder of Unladylike Theatre.
A’raelle Flynn-Bolden (she/her) | Co-Founder
A’raelle is an actor, writer, and arts activist and administrator. She is a CalArts alum, is a co-drafter of the Los Angeles Theatre Standards and currently acts as the Staff Programs Manager at Center Theatre Group.
Our larger collective is made up of multi-hyphenate visionaries who make this work endlessly meaningful and who has helped shape and build the infrastructure we are so grateful to have and can’t wait to bolster.
What’s next?
We have just began a Preventative Care/ Community Intervention initiative, which is looking to step in and abate harm before there is even a chance for it to happen! The furthering of this endeavor is something we’re all excited for.
Overall, we are eager to expand and deepen the work that we are doing! We are constantly dreaming of the world we want to see and brainstorming on the ways we can make it happen. We want to be daring with these dreams and bring as many folks and ideas in as we possibly can.
Pricing:
- We are donation based and give of our time voluntarily. One may donate here, https://www.blklstcollective.com/resources.
- Shoutout to Coin & Ghost, our fiscal sponsor. | https://coinandghost.org
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blklstcollective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blklst_la/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blklstcollective
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/blklst_la
- Other: https://latheatrestandards.com
Image Credits
Left to right: A’raelle Flynn-Bolden (Photo credit: Mylesha Morgan Ramey), Celia Mandela-Rivera (Photo Credit: Huebner Photography), Tiana Randall-Quant (Photo Credit: Andrew Chennault) | Headshot Photo Collage Left to right: Celia Mandela-Rivera, Tiana Randall-Quant, A’raelle Flynn-Bolden | Photo Credit: Roxana Blacks
