HOW I DISCOVERED I WAS BLACK… Because Everyone Keeps Reminding me
How I discovered I was black because… because everyone keeps reminding me is a one man show based on Rodney’s personal experiences growing up in the ’60s and ’70s in West Philadelphia and later in Yeadon, Pennsylvania, in what he describes as an “upwardly mobile assimilating middle-class black family.” The show uses films, storytelling, and songs to enliven his narrative. Whittenberg, 56, said that until recently African American stories like his were not included in the cannon of the black experience.
The inspiration for the film goes all the way back to the late 80’s when Rodney saw the film version of performance artists and play-write Spaulding Gray’s Swimming to Cambodia. Rodney thought “One day I will do a show like that.” In the late 90s early 2000s Rodney came up with what that show would be — How I discovered I was black because Everyone Keeps on reminding me.
The title is a humorous expression of his frustration with the world, particularly the United States, in how people see color of one’s skin as the definition of who they are, and moreover what they are capable of. Further, not only what they are capable of, but what they are supposed to do. This became evident supinely in the arts and entertainment industry. Rodney says an example of this is as he started scoring film he was only offered “black films” even though time and time again, like his hero Quincy Jones who scored the 1960’s film The Pawn Broker, he showed he could compose and produce any kind of music. Rodney says he found many other African American artists feeling and dealing with the same issues, either being too black or not black enough. A one man show was born.
It would take another 20 years before the show would come to light. After reading an article in the Chestnut Hill Local newspaper about a performance that Rodney was doing in connection with the podcast Music For The New Revolution, James Barry, marketing director for Chestnut Hill College, reached out to Rodney and made the offer every artist wants to hear. we would like to work with you and support the production of anything you would like to do. A relationship was forged, and the show was born.
If you would like to bring How I discovered I was black… because everyone keeps reminding me to your theater, school, or religious institution please reach out to Melodyvision at 610 941 9300 for a passcode to see the show and for booking and pricing information.
