BLUES IN SCHWARZ WEISS

In the organizer's words:

BLUES IN BLACK AND WHITE

with texts by May Ayim and Julienne De Muirier

"having grown up in germany, i am on my way", wrote May Ayim in 1983, "away from: being skin color, being nationality, / being religion, being party, / being big, being small, being intelligent, being stupid, / being or not being / on the way to me / on the way to you". The poet, educator and activist was a formative voice of the Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland (ISD), which began to fight for equality in the 1980s. In close exchange with the African-American feminist Audre Lorde, she coined the term "Afro-German", which makes it clear that an African and a German identity are not mutually exclusive. In the two volumes of poetry published before her early death, May Ayim finds a concise, poetic language in which she processes her experiences of racism and incomprehension as well as her childhood and her longing for love, her joy and her sadness. She plays with sounds, spellings and letters and yet always finds very clear words for what needs to change in Germany.

Together with author Julienne De Muirier, director Miriam Ibrahim is developing the play "blues in schwarz weiss", which combines Ayim's poems, letters and essays with their echoes in the present.

"Intersectional racism is part of all of our socialization, but it affects and shapes us differently - as individuals or in communities. May Ayim's texts and poems have made me feel that I am not alone with these issues, but part of a collective of non-white people in Germany. She describes the finely woven web of different experiences and experiences, power relations and processes that an Afro-German encounters in different living spaces and that evoke emotions and injuries. She opened a window on a Black perspective in Germany very early on, paving the way for many others to raise their voices and share their experiences and insights. As empowerment or as resistance." Miriam Ibrahim

Artistic direction

Production and music Miriam Ibrahim
Stage Nicole Marianna Wytyczak
Costumes Veronika Utta Schneider
Collaboration Costumes Marina Minst
Video Amon Ritz
Lighting Markus Schadel
Dramaturgy Katrin Michaels
Research and scientific advice Dr. Dr. Daniele G. Daude

"blues in black and white" tells of the physical, health and psychological effects of structural racism in everyday life.

This production also uses strobe lighting and loud music.

Those affected by right-wing and racist violence and discrimination can find advice and support at BEFORE in Munich.

www.rassismusfreies-bayern.net

The Bundesfachnetz Gesundheit und Rassismus provides information and networking on the topics of racism and mental health.

www.gesundheit-und-rassismus.de

Price information:

from 10 € for students