Usually I can put pen to paper about most subjects, especially those I feel really passionate about. However I literally haven’t been able to write about Exhibit B because it was simply to overwhelming. I wish in this moment that I could intellectualize and do word gymnastics about the whole Exhibit B experience but I can’t so I will just write as though I am having a conversation with you, and hopefully you will see why it was so important and why we must continue the right against racisim in all mediums. I couldn’t make sense of the hostility towards us as protesters, I felt like those in favour were shouting “what is wrong with you”, the issue was me or us we “misunderstood” we “didn’t get it” “we needed to see it to experience it”. Now Bailey laments over the images published…erm, mate you had YouTube video’s going back a year ago, but like Kermit, that is none of my business! All I do know is 43,000 people (UK and France petitions combined) totally understand that Exhibit was pure indulgence in the massaging of white conscience. As with institutional oppression the victims became the victimized, not Bailey’s desire to chain and shackle Black People in cages, masquerading as anti racist art. We were the issue, with our “pro censorship”, “anti freedom of speech” selves. “Trying to still the voice of Black (unemployed) actors” and silencing “a world renowned artist” whose art was “incredibly important” as to who this work is important to, is still a BIG QUESTION!!!! We were “a hysterical unruly mob”, yet in July just one month before #boycottthehumanzoo, the Fringe Festival cancelled an Israeli show due to boycotts, they were not called “an unruly mob” or “violent protesters” no, it was pleasantly reported about, like business as usual… moving on.
Anti-racism protesters lock arms outside the Vaults in London in opposition to ‘Exhibit B’. 23 September 2014. Photograph: © Thabo Jaiyesimi.
Yes we were successful in our protest, it was the Barbican that decided to cancel the show not the protesters, we simply exercised our human right to protest, and protest we did! We did loudly and proudly with our spirituality and our drums, we called on our ancestors, in unity, it was a beautiful experience. Not one arrest, no criminal damage, we let our disgust and offence be known, and I would most definitely do it again. Oh yes the mainstream media tried to make out we were “violent angry thugs”, the Barbican decided the reasons they cancelled were due to public safety, which was a lie. No worries we came, we conquered and that was good enough for us…but it did not stop there. Suddenly we now had to defend ourselves against the new racist the Neo Liberal, and trust me the Neo-Liberal can be both Black and White, the person who snipes and declares “they (us) don’t speak for me”. a well known author who proudly hold an MBE called the supporters “Disciples of Sara Myers”, the 23,000 people who signed the petition in the UK simply did not have their own mind to see racisim for what racisim is? Really? I think the for the most part, many saw that unnatural desire to flaunt white privilege in the face of others, like the Emperor with his new clothes were willing to say openly “he has no clothes on” Those Neo liberals defending Exhibit B were those who had vested interests and ladder kickers who did not want us to upset the status quo, but that is what we came to do and that is what we did.
L'INTÉGRALITÉ DE L'ARICLE EST DISPONIBLE SUR LE BLOG DE ANGRY BLACK WOMAN
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