With Black History Month coming to a close, the time has come to look back and reflect on the meaning of it. Many of us might be tempted to think only of the civil rights movement in the ‘60s and ‘70s or the historic events that took place on this very campus when James Meredith integrated the university in 1962.
This evening, one group of Oxford artists and activists are banding together for the third time to present a reading of African-American literature and writings of what were considered black radicals. VOX PRESS, a non-profit organization based in Oxford since 2012, is producing “Off the Pigs!” to honor black radical writers and bring attention to the relevance of their work today.
The show will start at 7 p.m. at the Powerhouse. The event is free and open to the public, but a $5 donation is suggested to help cover expenses.
This event is both an opportunity to celebrate Black History Month and support the ever-growing arts community of Oxford and to participate in a greater social commentary taking place in the United States and all over the world.
“Judging by the police killings of the past year and by the still enormous disparity in income gaps between whites and blacks, America still very much is a racist country, no matter how much we try to sweep this ugly detail under the rug,” said Louis Bourgeois, executive producer of VOX. “The point of this show is to wake people up from delusion and dishonesty. We are a long way from being a society without race and economic disharmony.”
Local musician Bill Perry, who will be reading in the show, said he hopes “Off the Pigs!” will spark a positive intellectual dialogue about what these activists were trying to convey. Perry said he is excited to be a part of the third production of black radical readings with VOX and looks forward to the impact the show will have on the community.
“It’s been interesting to see how the Oxford community reacts to the words of these individuals we’re reading,” Perry said. “It’s a very powerful event that needs to be experienced more than explained, honestly.”
Perry described the set-up of the event as all the readers standing at individual microphones and reading excerpts from speeches assigned to them.
“We each try to evoke the emotional energy entailed in these speeches, making an effort to bring about the feelings and issues of the times, which are still relevant today like race relations, poverty and the economy, police brutality, civil liberties and so on,” Perry said.
Many of the show’s cast members feel these dramatic readings provide an important perspective into the lives of the authors and open a window to a past when these writings were more than just pieces of history, but the reality of the authors. The pieces included in the show were written by notable authors like Malcolm X, Robert Williams, Kathleen Cleaver and Assata Shakur, among others.
The show’s unique title, “Off the Pigs!,” comes from a chant used by the Black Panthers in the 1960s when the group was dealing with police brutality. Stage director Rhondalyn Peairs said the show aims to explain just how important this group of black intellectuals are, even if it makes some people feel uncomfortable. She believes that by starting a dialogue, Ole Miss students can be inspired to make a positive change in society.
“Some of these you read and say, ‘that could have been written today,’” Peairs said. “These writings will always be important and timely because there will always be something going on.”
Peairs encourages everyone who can attend to check out the show and be open to gaining a new perspective on the world.
“If people feel like they can brave the temperatures, the show is sure to stir your blood,” Peairs said.
VOX is supported in part by the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, the Mississippi Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information go to www.voxpress.org or contact Louis Bourgeois at 662-816-4775 or louis-bourgeois@hotmail.com.
