Whiteout - A Performative Investigation of White Privilege in America

Description

Whiteout
A Performative Investigation of White Privilege in America
arranged and written by Hugh Merrill

Whiteout is a multi-dimensional project designed to create dialogues on heritage, privilege, power and racism in America. It is meant to help others step forward and discuss the truth about their family histories and their own perceptions about race and discrimination. This performance includes staged readings of Merrill’s memoir, a panel discussion, and an opportunity for audience participation through short stories and questions.

For two years, Merrill and his daughter, Rebecca Merrill, have been investigating their family history and connection to the insidious Jim Crow laws in the American South. In an unexpected discovery, they found out about their family connection to the legal lynching of Edgar Caldwell. This provoked a deeper investigation into their family past as well as a closer look at the current state of racial inequality in this country.

Merrill, an internationally renowned artist in printmaking and social practice, has created a visual zine, written a “mythologized” memoir of his coming-of-age story in a house governed by those who helped write the Jim Crow laws, and now this panel/performance of the memoir, available now from Spartan Press.

We are asking other groups concerned with historic inequality to join us and partner with us on the December 10^th event in order to create the largest possible audience and sustain this important discussion. We offer the trade of sharing of the event to an organizations email list and/or social medias for sharing on our own socials and flyers/programs/mentions in regards to this project. We especially are interested in deeper conversations on collaborative opportunities.
Please contact Hugh Merrill at hughmerr@hotmail.com or 816-686-8626 for more information on the Whiteout project or partnership with the event.