A Performance to Survive

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 20, 2010 ) −University of Kentucky English, Rhetoric and African American Studies professor Vershawn Ashanti Young presents a one-man performance at this year's second Carter G. Woodson Lecture Series, sponsored by UK's African American Studies and Research Program, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Center and the Africana Studies Consortium.

Young will perform an hour-long, solo show, adapted from his book, "Your Average Nigga: Performing Race, Literacy and Masculinity" from 4:30-6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Lucille Little Black Box Theater in Room 102 of the Fine Arts Building.

The show, which has also been titled, "Ghetto Memories," depicts how one man’s class struggles apply to the problem of black identity, masculinity and urban education, particularly language education.

Young’s first book argues that the linguistic conflict present in black and white language styles leaves blacks in the impossible position of either trying to be white or forever struggling to prove that they are black enough.

For men, this also becomes an endless struggle to prove that they are masculine enough. Young calls this constant effort to display proper masculine and racial identity the burden of racial performance—a burden that severely interferes with the racial and class progress of blacks.

"I always tell people who ask me first about the title and second or not at all about the content: 'the title is in your face, but it doesn't hurt,'" said Young. "I'd rather people see the performance or read the book before judging it by its cover."

The performance artist and scholar is also editor of "From Bourgeois to Boojie: Black Middle-Class Performances" and co-editor of "Code Meshing as World English: Policy, Pedagogy, Performance."

Young teaches and writes about the African-American experience, with specific attention to class, sexuality, urban education and politics. At UK, he teaches the new freshman composition and communication course, African American literature and performance studies.

The Carter G. Woodson lecture series, sponsored each year by the AASRP, is named in honor of the noted African-American history scholar.

Initially developed as the Faculty Luncheon Forum in 1992, this series has evolved into one of AASRP's cornerstone events, enriching the campus as well as the community's intellectual understanding of various topics and themes relating to issues of race and culture. The series, which includes four speakers throughout the year, also provides faculty and graduate students an academic arena to present research.

Young's performance is free and open to the public and copies of his book will be available for purchase. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, please contact AASRP at (859) 257-3593 or Le Datta Grimes at (859) 257-0187.