Theater The Langston Hughes Affair Slowly Ascending to “Shitstorm” Status
posted by on December 10 at 13:25 PM
Back in mid-October, Jacqueline Moscou, the artistic director of Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center (and perennial director of Black Nativity at Intiman) was removed from her post at Langston Hughes and placed under investigation by the city. Nobody would say why—not city officials, not Langston Hughes employees, not Ms. Moscou, nobody.
Reporters weren’t the only people frustrated by the silence—this week’s theater section has a story about 80 irritated Central District residents who hijacked a city parks meeting, demanding answers.
The climax of the meeting was an announcement by Vonda Sargent, Moscou’s attorney, that her African-American client is being investigated for charges of racism.
“She’s been accused of being too pro-black,” Sargent said. Then her microphone went dead.
The crowd started shouting.
“Let her speak! We need to hear this!” yelled Pastor Carl Livingston.
Sargent’s microphone came back to life.
(The rest of the story is here.)
The city still isn’t saying much (officials argue, rightly, that it would be a violation of Ms. Moscou’s privacy to say anything before the have finished their investigation), but the community is still pissed. Prized from this morning’s bale of email:
Communities Unite for Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
Candelight Vigil and Peaceful Protest
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 5:00 p.m.
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S, 98144
In recent weeks, the community voiced its concern surrounding the mission, management and artistic direction of the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center.
…it is important for supporters to continue to make their voices heard in support of the vision of Langston as a space to celebrate and showcase Black arts in Seattle and to provide opportunities for Black artists the thrive…
It is time for the voices of the community to speak truth to power and demand that Langston remain true to its vision as an African American artist-centered space!
The city maintains that its investigation of Ms. Moscou has nothing to do with “de-blacking” Langston Hughes. The attorneys and activists disagree.
Nobody will persist in knowing anything until the city releases the results of the investigation.
Nobody knows when that will happen.
So, in other words, it was payback for letting concerned citizens voice their opinion?
Yeah, this ain't going away quickly ...
fyi ... one step past shitstorm would be considered a "shiticane."
I prefer Bukake Tusnami...
Bring back Shitstorm! Time for the fourth installment.
Yesterday at Langston there was supposed to be a 'candle light vigil' for the 'death of black theater'. ???
10 people standing outside Langston Hughes dejectedly in the cold, does not a 'shitstorm' make.
JOKE of a protest. This is ridiculous. One woman who by all accounts was incompetent in her administration is put on paid leave, and it's a Black thing? No my friend, it's a Dumb thing.
If all the people who attended the city meeting actually came out and supported Black theater, we might have more than one or two viable Black theaters in this town.
I know she'd like to thnk so, but Ms.Moscou is NOT the only Black director in town, not the only woman director in town, and not the only BLACK WOMAN director in town.
Stop treating her Paid Leave like a National Tradgedy- it's not. It's a damn shame, but peopel get laid off all the time (just ask Group Health employees this week).
I say heartily, "FEH" on all this stuff and nonsense.
Yesterday at Langston there was supposed to be a 'candle light vigil' for the 'death of black theater'. ???
10 people standing outside Langston Hughes dejectedly in the cold, does not a 'shitstorm' make.
JOKE of a protest. This is ridiculous. One woman who by all accounts was incompetent in her administration is put on paid leave, and it's a Black thing? No my friend, it's a Dumb thing.
If all the people who attended the city meeting actually came out and supported Black theater, we might have more than one or two viable Black theaters in this town.
I know she'd like to think so, but Ms.Moscou is NOT the only Black director in town, not the only woman director in town, and not the only BLACK WOMAN director in town.
Stop treating her Paid Leave like a National Tradgedy- it's not. It's a damn shame, but people get laid off all the time (just ask Group Health employees this week).
I say heartily, "FEH" on all this stuff and nonsense.
Yesterday at Langston there was supposed to be a 'candle light vigil' for the 'death of black theater'. ???
10 people standing outside Langston Hughes dejectedly in the cold, does not a 'shitstorm' make.
JOKE of a protest. This is ridiculous. One woman who by all accounts was incompetent in her administration is put on paid leave, and it's a Black thing? No my friend, it's a Dumb thing.
If all the people who attended the city meeting actually came out and supported Black theater, we might have more than one or two viable Black theaters in this town.
I know she'd like to think so, but Ms.Moscou is NOT the only Black director in town, not the only woman director in town, and not the only BLACK WOMAN director in town.
Stop treating her Paid Leave like a National Tradgedy- it's not. It's a damn shame, but people get laid off all the time (just ask Group Health employees this week).
I say heartily, "FEH" on all this stuff and nonsense.
I have a friend whose daughter is taking hip hop classes at Langston Hughes. After hearing about the "Peaceful Protest," the parents decided to not bring their children to the building because they were concerned about their children's safety and welfare. The class was canceled. So, an artist lost a paid teaching gig and the kids missed an opportunity to dance. Everyone lost out.... The parents are no fools. They read through "Peaceful Protest" and recognized misguided and smoldering animosity. Boy that's not attractive..............
How are these people really helping Langston Hughes when they're attacking the organization and driving people away.
I attended the Parks meeting a couple weeks back. There was about 80 people there. When I got the email about the vigil, I was really curious about how many people would show up. I stopped by and saw 10 shivering "protestors." Looks like the movement is losing support. No surprise.
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