Help is not Rankine’s first project examining systemic racism and white influence. In fact, Rankine’s extensive literature catalog heavily delves into race, and her awards, honors and promotion as chancellor of the Academy of American Poets in 2013 prove her words resonate with audiences.

The play isn’t meant to be a performance where white people suddenly feel guilt about their immunity, but instead a way they can reflect on how their inherent privilege comes at the disadvantage of Black peoples’ basic rights. Especially when it comes to covering bigotry in academia.

“Culture is incredibly powerful. Who we are is shaped by the culture, and the people who are against critical race theory also understand this,” Rankine said. “And that’s why they’re trying to shut down avenues of thought. That’s why they’re trying to prevent certain books from being read. Because they’re afraid of what it means to have a consciousness that was built through the culture. They are not going to win that war because people are exposed to all kinds of things in different ways.”

Regardless of whether opponents of critical race theory succeed in banning the topic in schools, Rankine asserts, curious scholars will look at other vehicles to learn about the country’s history as it pertains to race relations.

“If they don’t get it from reading books, they’ll get it from watching Ava Duvernay and Steve McQueen films. They’ll get it from the performances of their favorite actors. There’s no one way to do it, you know?

“Not only are they making it, they are in positions of ownership toward what gets made. We don’t have to go through white gatekeepers in order to get work produced or bought. We’re succeeding at creating our own projects. It’s a very amazing and hopeful time right now.”

Claudia-Rankine

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