People of all backgrounds are “welcome at all of our shows” says the NAC.
It would appear that the National Arts Centre has backed off their idea for a “black-identifying only” event.
Originally, the NAC had said their “black out” event was for an “all-Black identifying audience.”
“On February 17, the evening’s performance of Is God Is will welcome an all-Black identifying audience to experience and enjoy a performance in the Babs Asper Theatre. Tickets for this performance are available now.”
“A Black Out is an open invitation to Black Audiences to come and experience performances with their community. The evenings will provide a dedicated space for Black theatregoers to witness a show that reflects the vivid kaleidoscope that is the Black experience.””
Notably, by saying their open invitation is for “Black Audiences,” and by saying they are welcoming an “all-Black identifying audience,” the clear implication is that others are not welcome.
If you want to invite everyone, you don’t need to specify who is invited.
After this was revealed by respected Canadian writer Jonathan Kay, the story spread and even garnered some international attention.
The National Arts Centre – which is funded by our taxpayer dollars – was facing more and more questions from Canadians as to why it was somehow deemed acceptable to exclude so many people.
After all, aren’t we supposed to moving away from the idea of segregating and dividing people by their race?
And now, the NAC has backtracked.
In a news release, they said people of all backgrounds are welcome at their shows:
Update: The @CanadasNAC now seems to have given up on its race-controlled Feb 17 event plan. A new press release, issued today, indicates a new policy by which people of all races are “welcome at all our shows.” https://t.co/v4JWnor7qf pic.twitter.com/utux076FQP
— Jonathan Kay (@jonkay) January 30, 2023
While they still say it’s an “open invitation to Black theatergoers”, they added that “Everyone is welcome at all our shows.”
Wokeness under the spotlight
What this demonstrates is that ‘wokeness’ is still far outside the mainstream, and doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
The vast majority of people would fully support the idea that people of all backgrounds should be made welcome at theatre events.
The vast majority of people would also see it as absurd to have an event that is only for people of a certain race.
Wokeness thus ‘works’ best when it can avoid scrutiny, or be presented as a fait accompli, with no ability to stop it beforehand.
When exposed to criticism, it withers.
Hopefully this moment will represent a trend of common-sense making a comeback and racially-divisive woke narratives being rejected.
Spencer Fernando
Photo – YouTube
