Black Jew Dialogues kick off Fusion at Goucher

"Actor Larry Jay Tish operates a puppet during a performance of 'The Black Jew Dialogues' at Goucher College Wednesday, March 2, 2011."
“Actors Ron Jones (left) and Larry Jay Tish don the role of grandmother together during a performance of ‘The Black Jew Dialogues’ at Goucher College Wednesday, March 2, 2011.”
“Actor Larry Jay Tish stands before a presentation of photographs documenting a history of persecution during a performance of ‘The Black Jew Dialogues’ at Goucher College Wednesday, March 2, 2011.”

I procrastinated on a paper that was due for class last Thursday by photographing The Black Jew Dialogues on Wednesday night. It made for a long night and morning with that paper, but I’m glad I was there shooting. I got the paper done on time, for the record.

The show touched on so many issues in such a short period, which is why I felt I had to post three photographs here. Only posting one wouldn’t have been a good representation of the feel of the performance. It was funny one minute, serious the next, lighthearted another minute, then difficult to take in the next.

The actors’ overarching message was that although Blacks and Jews have had different histories, as a whole, their struggles have been largely the same. Taking time to talk through those struggles with each other, not just among Blacks and Jews, but among all groups, is the best way to better the world, they said.

The dialogue was an interesting way to get that point across, I thought.