Kemono

It's somewhat funny seeing people describe the play itself as discriminatory. I didn't see this play as telling me I ought to think a certain way or that I ought to interpret the events a certain way, and I worry for the integrity of those who think it did. Perhaps it's my own blackness allowing me to not get offended by what the characters are saying right off the bat, but I believe this play shone a light on the experience of dating as a young black person as much as it critiqued the pitfalls that black people, especially those in interracial relationships, fall into when seeking to address their own issues and trauma. The researchers were brilliantly written and made for a great conversation topic with the family members I saw the play with after the fact, who have heard me complain about that type of academic ad nauseam. I do however think that it went on a bit long and that, beyond the first act, they could have made much better use of the stage. Having everyone sat around for the rest makes for a bit of a boring watch. [Thematic spoiler for those browsing] I feel like this also works as a great entrypoint to discussion on the types of people who see sexual/kink play as a (somehow) healthy way of coping with their issues. Compared to things like sexual violence (choking, slapping, etc), it's rare for raceplay to be brought up in this regard precisely because people know it crosses a specific line, but rarely will they take the initiative to examine other forms of kink as inherently antithetical to healthily coming to terms with one's issues and trauma. Much to think about.