Centering Yourself: The Paradox Of The Black Bourgeoisie

In this final episode Micheal examines the recent movie, one battle after another. While not a theater piece, It’s treatment of black women within the film has been a heavily contested debate. Michael argues why the film is a rip off of White Girl In Danger & why it’s the perfect web representation of how diversity is handled in modern media.

In this episode Micheal looks at the difference between how white critics review black theater vs black critics.

Michael sits down with New York Times reporter Nicholas Confessore who wrote an investigative piece about DEI in universities. In this episode, they talk through the pros and cons of DEI. & why ultimately it has failed to materialize into the Revolution BIPOC people have been hoping for.

Michael has guest Stephen Brackett director of a Strange Loop on to discuss white creators directing black works. Michael makes the argument that all creators, regardless of race should be able to make their own decisions on whom they want to work with. The public disliking of such a concept is in its own way a form of racism.

Michael is joined by the creators of slam Frank a new musical off Broadway. Michael raves about his love for the show and the power of satirical musicals. The concept of revisionist history and putting historically inaccurate diversity and the contradictions that it can lead to.

Michael analyzes last year’s controversy surrounding Cynthia Erivo in fan made Wicked posters. This episode comes full circle in examining how the black bourgeoisie‘s influence still takes center stage.

Michael gives his thoughts on a recent controversy involving Keisha Lewis, and Patti LuPone. The origins of micro aggressions are investigated along with the black communities history with it. Micro aggression specifically in theater culture is also examined.

One of the more controversial musicals to the black community is The Book Of Mormon. Many call it a modern day minstrel show that should be taken out of Broadway. Michael and Mtume Gant (film professor at purchase) go through the origins and history of the minstrel show. They also define in their own words what a minstrel show is to them, & the more insidious, subtle ways minstrelsy can appear in the modern day.

In Episode 2 Michael talks with some former cast members of The Lion King. While it is one of the most successful musicals of all time and has a hugely diverse cast the story of the lion king is very much the opposite of liberation. Michael argues that its premise is built on accepting hierarchal norms and subjecting certain members of society. While the cast members counter with the socially positive impact that the show has had. The paradox of the podcast fully comes into play.

In this first episode Michael walks listeners through the history of the term BLACK BOURGEOISIE. Where did it originate from, how was it applied in the past and how it is applied in the present. Michael also delves into how this term appears in his own work and how to spot it in other pieces of media.