One of our TTAO core values is Diversity. This core value states: “Diversity- we
celebrate differences and include all the varied voices that represents students and
the communities we serve.” Our TTAO President, Yvonne Dupree, has asked each
member of TTAO to explore each core value in our educational endeavors, and she
has asked each board member to write an article sharing our viewpoint on one
selected core value. I selected DIVERSITY.
Never would I have thought that I would have an unsettled mind on the morning
of putting my thoughts down on paper. You see, it is a Monday morning, two days
after a hateful gunman walked into a Dollar General store and killed three innocent
people in Jacksonville, Florida. My heart hurts. My mind hurts from constantly
wondering why? Why has this happened again in our beloved America? And just
as importantly, I ponder this question- Where are we headed as a nation? How do
we educators become a part of the solution? Our nation needs to review the lessons
of our frightful past and present. Diversity in all of its forms makes us a better
people.
As Theatre Educators and Administrators, we must be committed to doing what
we have been doing for years, but with greater strategies and focus.
TTAO is addressing this need to Theatre Educators. In fact, our board president has
chosen the slogan, “Better Together” during her administration of our organization.
She challenges us to be more effective in using our TTAO power. This message is
simple, yet packed full of meaning and power. We ARE better together!
Better together in the classroom. Better together on the stage. Better together doing
workshops. Better together developing Theatre curriculum. The Better Together
list goes on and on. Our diverse communities help us to strategize and focus on
ways to achieve this Better Together through TTAO.
The Arts, especially Theatre, must remain vital and strong in its presence and in
its commitment to reaching and teaching each and every child…and ensuring that
ALL are included in our Theatre Arts programs. Theatre Arts can save a child.
It saved this frail and shy young boy, who came from one of the “so-called”
poorest areas of Houston, to be involved in an unfamiliar course of Theatre offered
by a young African-American man from Louisiana. He changed and inspired the
lives of a community. He constantly reached out to diverse people, diverse
curriculum, diverse parts of the world, and to diverse ideas. He lived diversity, and
I am eternally grateful to C. Lee Turner and so is TTAO.
C.Lee Turner Real Change Applications are on the TTAO website
2023 submissions opened on June 15 and close on September 10.
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Diversity and inclusion come in many ways. As a Theatre teacher, Thespian
Festivals, Student Workshops and Conferences kept me “on my toes”with group
fundraising.
It was not only a means of raising funds, but it was also a way of removing
economical barriers. It helped to foster a diverse program where all of my students
were allowed to participate in a myriad of activities. No matter the cost.
I see you! I value you! I want you involved in all that we do. Not just here on
campus, but in everything. Kids pay attention to who can and who can’t. .
I point this out because it took me a while to understand this form of inclusivity
allowing for diversity. I thought that my students in the neighborhood were all the
same, but we weren’t, economically. Wow! I needed to even the playing field, and
I’m so very glad that I did. Getting kids out of the city and state was a joy to see.
Diversity is important to our lives as human beings. Even in our Theatre
classrooms. We must not succumb to the feeling of, “but we don’t have power”.
We have the power to teach through using and researching an inclusive curriculum
that is diverse in a variety of ways.
Diversity shows up when we cast our shows. For example, Casting an Asian-
American as Homer in Lillies of the Fields and an African-American as Mother
Maria was a no-brainer for me due to talent. I can think of several other shows that
were just part of the norm of diverse casting or colorblind casting. Stretch the
norm!
Diversity will continue to require us to be honest and have open and frank
conversations. Diversity will require a commitment that we will make in our minds
and hearts to touch all children in our classrooms. For they will eventually become
adults that create, inspire and motivate mankind to be our better selves.
This is so very much needed right now. I believe that in our small or maybe not so
small way, we can continue striving to teach this world to be a better place.
Diversity in our Theatre programs may very well be part of the solution.
Yes, indeed. Better Together!
