PREVIEW: Myth and Marrow: A Genius Bridge Between Art and Civic Discussion
07/04 @ Underground Railroad Education Center, Albany
“I think it is important for us to remember not only all of the times in which fascism actually did win but also the many lessons as to how we can get ourselves out of that. I believe in that for America, and I want that for America, even as a Black American woman.”
Finding artists and creative works so full of intellect and passion that they leave you overwhelmed with curiosity is one of life's most fulfilling features. And after speaking with Jae Gayle, the writer, producer, and performer of Myth and Marrow, it was undoubtable that this latest work of hers would fall nothing short of phenomenal. Myth and Marrow, a one-act musical representing the historical labor and contributions of Black American women, will be premiering July 4 at the Underground Railroad Education Center in Albany.
Myth and Marrow invites audiences to take a conversational role in a fundamental, yet often overlooked, aspect of history. Premiering on the fourth of July, this stage drama aims to make historical and world consciousness more accessible through an interactive and engaging platform. Myth and Marrow is truly a creation of dedicated historical research on the paid and unpaid labor of Black women during crucial periods in American history that our society can no longer ignore or discredit.
"I started doing research first in Albany, and then I expanded it to Oakland, California, just about the kind of labor that Black American women engaged in,” details Jae. “In my research, I came up with what I call the ‘Myth and Marrow thesis,’ which says that the paid and unpaid labor of Black American women has been a subsidy to American capitalism since 1776, the same year that Adam Smith published The Wealth of Nations, where he lays out the idea of laissez-faire capitalism.”
Jae’s avenue to presenting her Myth and Marrow thesis is ingenious: a musical involving audience participation to engage new voices in a conversation that is so important in our current educational climate. Set within an American courtroom, the play involves the American government suing Black women with several representative charges. The three charges, being theft of labor, excessive force, and civil disobedience, all represent stereotypes used against women of color for centuries. In this courtroom performance, audience members will be selected to form a jury to truly assess these stereotyped charges.
“I decided to lean into stereotypes and folklore, because we tend to use a lot of folklore and stereotypes in our day-to-day interactions with each other, whether we realize it or not," says Jae. “Those three charges are really a reflection of three stereotypes that we have about Black American women. Theft of labor represents the welfare queens, excessive force represents the angry Black woman trope, and civil disobedience represents the strong Black woman trope. It's these stereotypes that we hold in America that are these double-edged swords for Black American women.”
By actively engaging audience members in a face-to-face conversation with the reality of stereotypes in our society, Jae hopes that Myth and Marrow will spark greater thought and collaboration on these ideas outside of the performance space.
Amidst times when it is easy to feel powerless to larger societal forces and as though creating true change is incomprehensible, artists and educators like Jae almost naturally understand how to reshape these narratives in powerful ways. Many people associate art with being one of the greatest avenues to social change, and now more than ever, it is essential that we celebrate the creators making these conversations.
“I think there is a general rise in consciousness as far as what humanity is and that we should all be fighting for humanity across the board,” explains Jae. "It’s important for us to remember not only all of the times in which fascism actually did win but also the many lessons as to how we can get ourselves out of that. I believe in that for America, and I want that for America, even as a Black American woman. I absolutely believe in the American experiment and that it can do good, not just for people that look like me, but for everybody.”
Myth and Marrow is an empowering reminder of the true capabilities humans hold to create change. With Myth and Marrow being a part of the Labor Pains Collective, a nonprofit organization uniting civic participation with live art, it is evident how much power comes from using collaborative avenues as a way to combat misinformation or false historical narratives. Jae’s creation is an inspiring tool to push more civic participation into higher places of power. The free premiere performance of Myth and Marrow on July 4 at 6:00 p.m. is just the beginning for Jae’s portrayal of labor forces and is a truly unmissable event.
For more information about the premiere of Myth and Marrow visit: https://undergroundrailroadhistory.org/event/myth-and-marrow/