We Can't Go Back: Ending Racism Starts with White People Giving Up Power

Our third installment stars Michael J. Bobbitt, with our host Courtney J. Boddie from the Teaching Artistry with Courtney J. Boddie Podcast, who focuses on the root of nonprofit racism: Board Leadership. Combining his analysis upon New Repertory Theatre and today’s climate, Bobbitt has proposed next steps to reduce discrimination and promote equality in the theater space. 

The theater world has been actively working on racial justice, but changes in audiences and funders stay stagnant. Doing the work is fundamental, but the lack of financial, governmental and operational backing slows the movement. 

Looking at donors, institutions provide those with ample resources more, instead, Bobbitt suggests that all donors receive equal benefits to amplify the concept of equity because individuals who have a sense of security and can receive that through various channels should not be overly nurtured. On the other side of the spectrum, we have boards that tend to be composed of homogenous individuals supporting their own kind. Even when they create auxiliary committees, such as Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI), these groups have no power and can be viewed as performative. To disrupt the system, Bobbitt recommends giving those committees veto power to stop racist and questionable decisions. This bestows actual power, covers harmful impacts upon the public and exposes bias.

Power is the root problem and racism will never end unless White individuals comply with distributing power amongst everyone. As power differentials shift in America, a sense of loss is striking White people because they must reevaluate their identity. 

Anti-racist work (or DEAI) is an act of love towards people who have been mistreated in America, grounded upon changing the hearts and minds of individuals to construct a racially just world where everyone benefits. “We want to end a race war, not start one” and when race is revered where people meaningfully engage in other’s cultures, perhaps then racism will be over”, says Bobbitt.

Join us next week when Courtney interviews Khalia Davis, a bicoastal multidisciplinary artist who splits her time between the San Francisco/Bay Area and New York; she is the newly named, Artistic Director of Bay Area Children's Theatre.

Michael J. Bobbitt is the Artistic Director of New Repertory Theatre.  He is an arts leader, director, choreographer, and playwright. Prior to New Rep, he served as Artistic Director for Adventure Theatre-MTC in Maryland, where he led the organization to be a respected theatre/training company in the DC region and a nationally influential professional Theatre for Young Audiences.  He led the company through a merger, increased the organizational budget by more than 600%, expanded audiences by 400%, commissioned 40 new works by noted playwrights, transferred two shows Off-Broadway, transferred one show internationally, built an academy, and earned dozens of Helen Hayes Award Nominations including eight wins. Bobbitt has directed/choreographed at Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Olney Theatre Center, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Center Stage, Roundhouse Theatre, The Kennedy Center, and the Washington National Opera. His national and international credits include the NY Musical Theatre Festival, Mel Tillis 2001, La Jolla Playhouse, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Jefferson Performing Arts Center, and the Olympics. As a writer, his work was chosen for the NYC International Fringe Festival and The New York and Musical Theatre Festival. He has two plays published by Rogers and Hammerstein Theatricals. He trained at Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management, The National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program, Certificates in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell, artEquity and People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, and other top leadership programs. He earned the Excel Leadership Award (Center for Nonprofit Advancement) the Emerging Leader Award (County Executive’s Excellence in the Arts and Humanities), and Person of the Year Award (Maryland Theatre Guide), among others.