What is it?

The BLKLST compiles pertinent information on theatre companies and institutions of the greater Los Angeles area. 

The creation of this glossary is inspired largely by Victor Hugo Green’s “Negro Motorist Green Book: A safety guide for Negro Travelers”, a tool used by people of color to traverse this white supremacist nation safely. 

While the Green Book tracked where it was safe for people of color to find rest and recreation during their travels, BLKLST will track where safety and value may or may not lie for BIPOC folx and other marginalized theatremakers, based on information that’s publicly available and by also asking institutions to share certain data that relates to anti-racism and equity progress.

We do this so that people of color (and hopefully all people) can then spend their creativity without fear of discrimination, microaggressions, and other forms of blatant othering. In undertaking this work, we endeavor to make community-led accountability the cultural norm in our industry.

BLKLST is curated and updated by the BLKLST Oversight Council: a coalition of theatremakers from diverse intersections and backgrounds.

WHO WE ARE

The BLKLST Oversight Council is made up of various intersectional BIPOC creatives, co-conspirators who are a part of the L.A. theatre community members. 

COUNCIL GOALS

• Maintain transparent data collection and communication

• Present clear information that will allow an artist to make a better informed decision on theatres

• Create and assessment on theatres (Coming Soon)

• Overall, ensuring that our continued mission of holding theatre institutions accountable for equitable progress are being upheld 

COUNCIL FUNCTIONS

• Consolidating information once received that will serve as the basis for The BLKLST itself

• Working in groups of at least two per theatre to ensure a system of checks and balances

• Initiate communication with theatres 

• Create the BLKLST Report  (Coming Soon)