Nicollette Roe

Dance 101
2/28/2016
Assignment 6
Below is a poem I created after being inspired by the dance entitled Strange Fruit
(1943) choreographed by Pearl Primus and set to the words of Lewis Allens poem. In regards to
the solo performers form and technique, I felt that the simplicity of the stage was used as a
powerful aesthetic to make an impactful effect on the audience. For me, it threw current human
rights abuses, specifically against people of color, in the face of audience goers and viewers.
The quick movements combined with the fall and rise of the artist; with outstretched lines of the
body, created a scenery of the times that gave me chills. It prescribes a harsh reality for those in
society when thinking about racism and the injustices that occur. The characteristic features of
the dance as I mentioned were the outstretched lines of the body that curved with anguish as
the devastating lynching in Lewis Allens poem took place. With every gut wrenching twist and
turn one couldnt help but feel sick to their stomach with the explicit raw and realness of the
piece. Due to the social and political issues that Strange Fruit addresses, it inspired me to
continue to speak out on the racism still happening today. Im an activist in my personal life and I
felt that this dance was too commonly similar to how modern day dancers would and do depict
police brutality and institutionalized racism of todays world. What interested me most was that
as an activist I never thought of dance as a form to speak out on issues until I enrolled in this
course. After planting a seed in my mind of a new way to take action I now view my body as an
instrument to be played in the face of adversity. For now, this piece inspired me to create my
own words to continue Lewis Allens message through my views as a mixed person but also as
an ally to the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Title: White Fragility

If you said things in a nicer tone people will listen to you more,
Says my fiery, red-haired Irish step mom.
Coming from a women who thinks shes not privileged because she grew up poor.
And the lack of truth telling in history classes her whole life played as a lure,
To go on an All Lives Matter conversation tour.
Please dont come to me with that shit.
Ignorance.
Im only 24,
But I know better than most of your
Aunts, uncles, cousins, mothers, about what it means to be at war
With those that say racism doesnt even EXIST
but not acknowledging their privilege is what curates the midst
of black and brown men being overrepresented in the criminal justice system

and underrepresented in spaces of opportunity and more.

Im sick of educating my white side and seeing my brown side waver.
Dont tell me to use a nicer tone with you because your white fragility
lacks the vitality
of carrying an energy thats for marginalized groups totality.
White fragility.
Thats why shes mad at me.