Annenberg Beach House Artist in Residence

DRAFT 2 01.27.19  6:34 AM — Redd just woke up. Warm embrace. Oven on for breakfast. He’s to the couch.

Considering Love[a|o|d] Where I Seek Equity In My Life

[subtitled: You Can’t Have it All]

Invocation.

[From The Taken Down God By Jorie Graham]

On mistaken identity.  

subtitled: {The Other Other. No, I do not know where they keep [ ______ ]}

At some point, I should make a tally.  Two columns.

Attire.	Professions White Women Commonly Mistake Me As:
COLORED  T-SHIRT/LOGO[NON-LOGO], JEANS	TRADER JOE’S EMPLOYEE
LIGHT COLORED COLLARED SHIRT [SHORT SLEEVE/LONG SLEEVE]	WAITER, BUSBOY
WHATEVER I’M WEARING/IN MY HONDA	RIDESHARE DRIVER [THEY WAVE ME DOWN]
*TANK TOP	CRIMINAL/HENCHMAN/RARELY LEADER

Still(Always) unpacking this. It’s been like this or a version of this my whole life. It’s a very subjective experience, and I don’t think it’s often discussed between us of color. Let’s compare notes. What does whiteness see when it sees you? What class? What story do they throw on you like a stained jacket/trashed poncho/unwanted uniform?

*Regarding this last one. In the interest of transparency, I’ve made good money on this assumption. They pay me well to objectify me fully. Often [compared to my white male counterparts], I am considered less an actor, closer to the scenery - pepper to their salt, yes? The secondary characters I portray are poorly drawn, with forgettable names and no history. They are/I am an extension/archetype of prejudice. [TRANSLATE: He is of color, with tattoos, and speaks with mild ghetto-affected accent. He is a snitch, he is a gunman, he can die.[CO-STAR/GUESS STAR 17 lines]

In Closing:

--W.R.