“ We ask that you turn off your cell phone during this performance. We also ask that you go ahead and turn off your prejudice, too.”
Larry Tish and Ron Jones have traveled across the country with their two-man act, The Black Jew Dialogues. The act made a stop at the USC ballroom on April 8 to perform for the students of USF St. Petersburg, and got back a little more than they expected.
The Black Jew Dialogues was created by the two men, and is intended to show the “absurdity of prejudice” in today’s society. The clever, yet possibly offensive title of the show goes back to the two actors that created it. Larry Tish, a member of the Jewish faith, and Ron Jones, an African American, engage the audience in conversation about the two cultures and the growing rift between them. It doesn’t stop there. The skits and history lessons within the show ranged anywhere from the civil rights movement to LGBT culture.
“The hatred based on skin color, or religion, or how you talk, or your weight, or your sexual preference is so absurd that it is funny,” Tish said. “We should work really hard to make sure that this hate is diffused through dialogue.”
The Black Jew Dialogues were brought to USFSP thanks to the multi-cultural affairs office coordinator, Jovanna Gueverra. She found them featured in the National Association for Campus Activities, and thought that the show would be a great fit.
“It’s good to bring all the “absurdity of prejudice” out in the open now as our campus is growing to be more diverse,” Gueverra said. “It is good to have these discussions with students so they can be more open and accepting of their differences.”
Tish and Jones use a few different outlets in the show to get across their message of how important diversity is, and how powerful it can be on a campus like ours. They use skits, videos, puppetry, and most important, discussion among students after the show.
Mary Lazaris, an elementary education major, stayed after the show to participate in the discussion. A few members of the audience stressed that they feel a racial divide on the USFSP campus. Lazaris doesn’t necessarily agree.
“I feel that our campus is integrated. Personally, my circle of friends has broadened since coming to USFSP and I have really gotten to know some diverse groups of people,” Lazaris said.
Brian Painter, marine sciences major, is new to the USFSP campus this semester. He also doesn’t think that there is a diversity problem on our campus, but he can understand why the show is important.
“I thought the show was a great way to bring races together,” Painter said. “They approach race with humor as well as exposing some harsh truths. It shows me how important it is not to judge a book by its cover.”
With a campus that is growing so rapidly as USFSP, The Black Jew Dialogues came at a perfect time. Tish explains that it is never too late to change your views about someone, and there is always time to learn.
“It’s time to mix it up USFSP! Get with people that do not reflect your culture or religion or sexual preference, and talk,” Tish said. “There is no excuse for ignorance at a great institution like USFSP!”
