CHORUS

I wrote this show for my creamy nieces they’re growing up

I wrote this show for the black boys and girls who’ve had enough

I wrote this show for the activists looking for change

I wrote this show for my Asian sister’s who want to re arrange

Not just the furniture but smash down the walls

I wrote this show for my community, l wrote this show for y’all

I wrote this show for my people, for my people, for my people

I wrote this show for my people- people- people- people

 VERSE 1

I wrote this show for my mother and the migrants who came

To bring up their families through turmoil through the pain

Strange country, strange people, strangers, estranged

I wrote this show to fuel the fire, I wrote this show to fan the flame

In young hearts so full that they want to be on the stage

They want to make music, represent on the page

For Australians with mixed ethnicity

I wrote this show for you and l wrote this show for me

For “Coloured” South Africans and others too-

First time I reflect, this show for you

For rest of the country, this much is true

If show is about me then this show is about you

It’s confrontation and I like that see

It’s confrontation and it confronts me

It’s confrontation it is a plea

We see what we are we are what we see

Walking my words and a show in my shoes.

I wrote this show for me I wrote this show for you

 VERSE 2

 I see an industry of colour, empowering the other brothers

Nurturing the creamy boys and promoting the brown Mama’s

Artists Writers, Actors, Writers Rappers-, Lovers

I yearn for the rhythm’s no longer undercover

The Beats the Breaks the Notes the Tones

Is what I hunger, is what I hunger, is what I hunger

The Beats the Breaks the Notes the Tones

Is what I hunger, is what I hunger, is what I hunger

I’m done waiting for change, words left unsaid

L. Hughes my witness, his words in my head

I cannot eat of another man’s bread

I cannot have freedom when I’m dead

We’re ready for this, we have insight

To innovate, to integrate, to delight

To innovate, to integrate, to unite

To innovate, to integrate, to take flight

Walking my words and a show in my shoes.

I wrote this show for me I wrote this show for you

VERSE 2

 You cannot be what you cannot see

How about a show on the TV

Starring his, starring her, starring my family

Reflecting our Nation’s diversity

Now you’ve worked my words and a show in my shows

I wrote this show for me and I wrote this show for you

I WROTE THIS SHOW (THE POEM)

 I wrote this show for my creamy nieces and nephews they’re growing up

I wrote this show for the black boys and girls who’ve had enough

I wrote this show for the activists looking for change

I wrote this show for my Asian sister’s who want to re arrange

Not just the furniture but smash down the walls

I wrote this show for my community, l wrote this show for y’all

Beat

I wrote this show for my mother and the million migrants who came

To bring up their families out of turmoil through the pain

Strange country, strange people, strangers, estranged

I wrote this show to fuel the fire

I wrote this show to fan the flame

In young hearts so full that they want to be on the stage

They want to make music, represent on the page

For Australians with mixed ethnicity

I wrote this show for you and l wrote this show for me

For South Africans once called “Coloured” those called other names too

It’s the first time this girl reflects, I wrote this show for you

And to the rest of the country this much is true

If this show is about me then this show is about you

This show is a confrontation

This show is a plea

Pause

We see what we are

We are what we see

Beat

So come walk a show in my shoes

Beat

I wrote this show for my emotions; red hot and blue

I wrote this show for me and wrote this show for you

Six Steps to Speak Up

Be Ready. You know another moment like this will happen, so prepare yourself for it. Think of yourself as the one who will speak up. Promise yourself not to remain silent.

“Summon your courage, whatever it takes to get that courage, wherever that source of courage is for you,” said Dr. Marsha Houston, chair of the Communication Studies Department at the University of Alabama.

To bolster that courage, have something to say in mind before an incident happens. Open-ended questions often are a good response. “Why do you say that?” “How did you develop that belief?”

Identify the Behavior. Sometimes, pointing out the behavior candidly helps someone hear what they’re really saying: “Janice, what I hear you saying is that all Mexicans are lazy” (or whatever the slur happens to be). Or, “Janice, you’re classifying an entire ethnicity in a derogatory way. Is that what I hear you saying?”

When identifying behavior, however, avoid labeling, name-calling or the use of loaded terms. Describe the behavior; don’t label the person.

“If your goal is to communicate, loaded terms get you nowhere,” said Dr. K.E. Supriya, associate professor of communications at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and an expert in the role of gender and cultural identity in communication. “If you simply call someone a racist, a wall goes up.”

Appeal to Principles. If the speaker is someone you have a relationship with — a sister, friend or co-worker, for example — call on their higher principles: “Bob, I’ve always thought of you as a fair-minded person, so it shocks me when I hear you say something that sounds so bigoted.”

“Appeal to their better instincts,” Houston said. “Remember that people are complex. What they say in one moment is not necessarily an indication of everything they think.”

Set Limits. You cannot control another person, but you can say, “Don’t tell racist jokes in my presence anymore. If you do, I will leave.” Or, “My workspace is not a place I allow bigoted remarks to be made. I can’t control what you say outside of this space, but here I ask that you respect my wishes.” Then follow through.

“The point is to draw a line, to say, ‘I don’t want you to use that language when I’m around,’” Bob Carolla, spokesman for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. “Even if attitudes don’t change, by shutting off bad behavior, you are limiting its contagion. Fewer people hear it or experience it.”

Find an Ally/Be an Ally. When frustrated in your own campaign against everyday bigotry, seek out like-minded people and ask them to support you in whatever ways they can.

And don’t forget to return the favor: If you aren’t the first voice to speak up against everyday bigotry, be the next voice.

“Always speak up, and never be silenced out of fear,” said Shane Windmeyer, founder and coordinator of Campus PrideNet and the Lambda 10 Project. “To be an ally, we must lead by example and inspire others to do the same.”

Be Vigilant. Remember: Change happens slowly. People make small steps, typically, not large ones. Stay prepared, and keep speaking up. Don’t risk silence.

“There’s a sense of personal disappointment in having not said something when you felt you should have,” said Ron Schlittler, acting executive director of the national office of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Carolla put it this way: “If you don’t speak up, you’re surrendering part of yourself. You’re letting bigotry win.”

www.tolerance.org

Click and read the article

Dr Charlie Teo speaks out on racism

Listen to the key moments of the Dr Charlie Teo interview where he discusses some of his experiences being Australian.

thetelegraph.com.au18 January 2012

Dr Charles Teo says it’s wrong to deny that there’s racism in Australia. Source: Herald Sun

Dr Charles Teo, the son of Chinese immigrants, who prolonged the life of Jane McGrath and has saved the lives of hundreds of Australians, said it was wrong to deny there was racism.

At a launch of Australia Day Council celebrations yesterday, Dr Teo said that racism was still “very much alive in Australia”.

“I don’t quite like it when I hear politicians reassuring the Indians that there’s no racism in Australia. That’s bull—–,” he said.

What do you think of Prof Teo’s comments? Tell us below

Former premier Jeff Kennett, former Australian Medical Association president Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, singer Kamahl and ex-police commissioner Christine Nixon have all said that racism exists.

“My message to them is that Victoria has a very, very proud record of defending our multicultural base and promoting that multicultural community.

“We will not tolerate any form of discrimination.”

Dr Teo said his daughter had been a victim of racism.

“My daughter was just saying to me the other day, very sadly, she doesn’t like Australia Day because she has in the past dressed up, got into the spirit of things, put a sticker on her face, worn the green and gold and been told by drunk Australians to go home because she looks Chinese,” he said.

“That’s so sad, because you can’t get more Australian than my daughter.”

He knew of an Indian neurosurgeon who had come to Australia to study for three months who was spat on in the street and told to “go home”.

But Dr Teo, who holds the Order of Australia, said migrants also had a responsibility to integrate into Australian society.

Mr Kennett said that racism occurred among children, but he taught his own grandchildren to be tolerant of other races.

“I think there always will be elements of racism and it is often manifest itself in different ways,” he said.

Kamahl, who came to Australia from Sri Lanka in 1953, said: “Of course there are bad apples, people who are racist … Educated minds and educated hearts are required to stop racism.”

Melbourne was gripped by a wave of racist assaults on Indian students in 2009, which has been blamed for a drop in the number of students from that country enrolling here this year.

Dr Haikerwal, victim of a vicious bashing in 2008, said Australia was overall a welcoming society, but racism did exist.

He was in “the wrong place at the wrong time” when he was attacked, but Indian students were racist targets.

“Attacks shouldn’t happen against guests of our nation,” he said.

Former Victorian police commissioner Christine Nixon said all Australians had come from other countries.

“There is racism particularly against our own Aboriginal people and it always surprises me since we’ve all come from other places,” she said.

With Gemma Jones and Ashley Gardiner

drills@heraldsun.com.au

OKA, The Medics, Hawaiians and fans…Oh My!

TERM 3: BRISBANE/ IPSWICH/ GOLD COAST/ SUNSHINE COAST

TERM 4: DARLING DOWNS/ ROMA/ ST GEORGE/ GRANITE BELT

Told in the style of Hip Hop theatre, this is the true story of Candy B: a NIDA trained actor and award winning rapper, born and raised in the suburbs by South African parents.

Underscored by a pumping sound track created by Candy’s real life sister the notorious Busty Beatz, the show traverses the highs and lows, blocks and flows of growing up brown with an afro and big dreams in Australia.

The piece begins in Africa and quickly becomes episodic in structure, as Candy’s life from Seena Bird Dance Academy at six years old, to drama school in her early 20’s and then her entry into the entertainment industry is broken up by her mother’s journey of migration.

Candy B’s mix of storytelling, video, music and comedy has attracted young audiences across the country. The themes of identity, culture, home and self-belief are at the heart of this connection. Her message is to celebrate the diversity of this wide brown land.

AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM
ENGLISH: Language (Language for interaction), Literature (Examining literature)
HISTORY: Historical Knowledge and Understanding
GENERAL CAPABILITIES: Intercultural understanding, Literacy, Ethical behavior

QSA SENIOR SYLLABI
DRAMA, MUSIC, ENGLISH

ESSENTIAL LEARNINGS
THE ARTS (music, drama)
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION (personal development)
SOSE (time, continuity and change, culture and identity) Respect

STYLE/FORM
Hip Hop, Storytelling, Comedy, Video

THEMES AND CONTEXTS
Diversity, Culture and ethnicity, Personal history and Racism

COST
$6 per student ($15 for families of three or more).
Minimum charge $600 + GST. Teachers and parents free.
Schools (under 100) that can’t raise the min. charge may be eligible for a Small Schools Subsidy.

BOOK NOW >

STAGING REQUIREMENTS

• An indoor venue that can be darkened guarantees a better performance.
• 7m wide x 7m deep and 2.5m high stage space.
• Power outlet.

Writer: Candy Bowers
Music: Busty Beatz
Performers: Candy B and Busty Beatz

Set in lush foresty Woodford my team (Busty Beatz/ Lady Whit/ D’Light) and I stayed with Elders from across the world- Canada, Hawaii, Vanuatu, Australia. We chatted with youngsters and hipsters and rockers and hip hoppers representing the latest model of their ancestry… OKA and the Medics were serious highlights (now if you haven’t heard the music- check them out, killer people, killer!) I learned how to hula from men with the hottest legs I’ve ever seen in my life and I learned to believe in love again as Frank Yamma serenaded the crowd and Jess Beck sent me off to sleep (it was 2am an all!)

I shared the stage with Noel Tovey, his work Little Black Bastard  knocked me out for a good day… what an incredible work and an incredible man- an artist, a survivor, a king. I watched my delicious and extraordinary peers Polytoxic, Constantina Bush and the Bushettes- featuring Misscellaneous no less, and Mark “Lolly Man” Sheppard strut they stuff daily and nightly. It was a filling and overwhelming. Props to Sam Cooke and Di Mills for creating an simply stunning line up of work and music- max props for pushing out BlakDramatics, Woodfords only theatre venue… what a success ladies (youse roooock!)

Seeing and living and experiencing First Nation people’s music, art and culture, Aboriginal Australian music, art and culture, a real diversity of Australian people of colour’s music, art and culture thrilled me. It was very emotional at times- it was just wonderful. I loved it!!!! How I will survive without waking up to a bevvy of hot brown men in my kitchen for the rest of the year I will never know!!!

PS….Dis what you missed!!!

“Most commercial TV dramas inhabit an eerily pale Australia of yesteryear. The Neighbours website features 17 white actors and one (Gemma Pranita) whose father is Thai. Winners and Losers had 11 white leads and one ”part-Asian”. Home and Away has 22 white leads plus Jay Laga’aia. Packed to the Rafters features a loveable white family. All Saints, a medical drama that ran until late 2009, was spectacularly fictitious. ”How can a show that is based entirely around a hospital have no brown or Asian doctors?” asked Melbourne comedian Nazeem Hussain.”

Too White, The Age Nov 26th 2011

Sista She And The House Of The Holy Bootay

Original Review:

Show Rating:

Sista She are three gorgeous women, Sheila MC Eila, (Sarah Ward), Rashida EDA MC (Candy Bowen) and Busty Beats (Kim Bowen). They look fantastic, they’ve got amazing voices and their stage presence made this 100-seater venue feel like a massive gig in Hammersmith Odeon.

What I know about rap is less than negligible, but I can recognise a damn good time when it’s on offer. This is musical comedy/cabaret for the 21st century.

Their singing is stunning, the rapping is crisp and they are powerful, sexy movers with a great sense of physical comedy. You’ve got to love them, celebrating the size 18 woman and the joy of a large arse, among other things.

Rashida , particularly ,has a compelling street-regal presence and Busty Beats has an absolutely pissed-off rapper face that would be alarming if she wasn’t so funny.

The comedy is all there in the music, there’s very little straight talking, but I guess that like complaining about too much singing at the opera. If I don’t comment on the rapping styles, it’s my ignoranc, but everyone else was highly appreciative and snorting with laughter the terms of reference.

Even with a small audience, this felt like you were at the best party. The show has great momentum and infectious energy, a real shot in the arm in a busy fringe schedule.

Reviewed by: Julian Chambers