As I walked through Coleman Hall, I noticed posters for a presentation by Professor of English Dr. Elena Machado, called “Songs of Solidarity: The Potential and Limits of Latinx Allyship.” In the midst of busy semesters, it can be easy to simply pass by the countless flyers or briefly skim through the daily message center email that posts upcoming events. However, I’ve found that whenever I take the time to attend different talks on campus, I find great joy in simply showing up to learn new things.
Dr. Machado’s talk, held on Sept. 16 at the traditional reading room at Bertrand Library, explored the common themes between two community theaters (and their productions) focused on uplifting Latinx voices. The first was Borderlands Theater in Tucson, Arizona, whose original musical, “Anita” (by Milta Ortiz & Quetzal Guerrero) features bilingual songs. Similar to “It’s the Hard Knock Life” from the 1977 musical “Annie,” the girls in “Anita” sing in “Trabajadoras”: “working hard to do our part / porque somos imigrantes / even us kids have it hard.” For these children of immigrants, the song depicts not only the challenges they face but also their dreams— they sing of the careers they hope for as well as the sentiment, “we’re Americans to be.”
In addition to Borderlands Theater, Dr. Machado also talked about Power Street Theatre, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “Siluetas” (by Erlina Ortiz and Robi Hager) is a musical that tells the story of two characters, Cuban-American ex-housewife Dinora and Syrian-American activist/artist Khaliah. In “Siluetas,” the Spanish word for silhouettes (which represents one’s ancestors), Khaliah stands on the street with donuts, singing: “ask a Muslim (2x) / your burning questions,” which explores the challenges and misunderstandings Khaliah faces as she seeks to reassure the world around her that who she is is not threatening. As the musical continues, both Dinora and Khaliah are able to form a connection despite their differences.
From her interviews with both Milta Ortiz and Erlina Ortiz, Dr. Machado notes the challenge for both theaters when it comes to archiving their work as these productions seek to tell the histories and stories of their respective communities. “In a way, I feel like they [M. Ortiz and E. Ortiz] consider each performance to be their last performance.” Dr. Machado hopes that there can be more awareness of these community theaters serving the Latinx community, and a way to preserve the work that they are doing.
When asked, “How does activism play a role in the storytelling of these two theaters?”, Dr. Machado responded, “That’s a question I keep asking myself,” noting how there has to be a balance between the audience’s call to action and the entertainment component of art. “The audience can’t just leave depressed,” she said, “and as someone in my class this past week mentioned, “hope is a form of activism too.” This sentiment echoes one of Erlina Ortiz, who says, “I want the audience to keep in mind that there is something better coming. I’m still hopeful. Yo tengo esperanza tododia.”
As I reflect, I realize that with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technology, it can feel hard to find the purpose behind art and language. Why take hours to paint or write when it can be generated by AI in the matter of minutes? Why learn a language when there is google translate? As I listened to the presentation and heard the questions from the audience, I realized that at the core of what makes art and literature vital is community. I’ve found that the pieces that move me the most are ones that capture the innate experience of being human. Like the works of these two community theaters seeking to uplift diverse voices, art is alive— behind every book, performance, or painting lies the beating heart of a storyteller, hoping for their voice to be heard.
As I left the traditional reading room on Tuesday evening, I felt an unexpected sense of community and gratitude. Dr. Machado’s presentation reminded me not only of the importance of art created in community as seen through the works of Borderlands Theater and Power Street Theatre respectively, but also the importance of taking the time for learning and enrichment beyond the classroom. While life at Bucknell can be overwhelming and busy, as I begin my junior year, I realize that my time at Bucknell will not last forever, and it’s important for us to cherish the opportunities on campus that allow for learning and discussion.
In continuing her work presented in “Songs of Solidarity,” Dr. Machado is currently working on a digital humanities project called, “Where is US Latinx Theatre happening?” which will display a map of places of performances by and for the Latinx community.
