Teatro Sin Fronteras Theater without Borders
www.torrestama.com/teatro-sin-fronteras
Fifteen years ago, I escaped the social chaos after Hurricane Katrina hit on a stolen school bus rescuing African American families three days after the levees breached. I was on the same bus the iconic composer and native son Allen Toussaint rode out to safety. When I got back a month later on October 1, hundreds upon hundreds of Latin American reconstruction workers were on rooftop after rooftop laying down miles and miles of plastic blue tarp to cover the water damages. They were an avatar army of reconstruction angels doing the dirtiest work in those days, months, and immediate years post-Katrina.
“Teatro Sin Fronteras / Theater without Borders” is a virtual two-day poetry, theater, and music event for the 15th Anniversary of post-Katrina New Orleans to honor Latin American contributions to our rebirth. A variety of Latinx artists are centering immigrant stories that are often neglected in the post-Katrina narratives, and we want to raise funds for two organizations that we believe are doing valuable work for two communities of color seeking racial justice such as Familias Unidas En Acccion and Take ‘Em Down NOLA.
Because of Hurricane Laura's threat last week, we re-scheduled our event for this week. The raised funds will be distributed to these organizations, and from these funds, we will also offer honorariums to the dozen artists, poets, and musicians offering their creative talents to this “Theater without Borders” cultural event.
During these challenging pandemic times, Black and Brown communities have been hit the hardest, and our goal is to support immigrant families in need and an organization like TEDN seeking social justice to have all symbols of “white supremacy” removed from the city of New Orleans. As we employ this moment of social reckoning, our Teatro Sin Fronteras artists are looking to employ our creative talents to support Black and Brown organizations for the 15th anniversary of the storm.
We stand in solidarity with the “Black Lives Matter” movement
and proclaim that “No Human Being Is Illegal.”
For both evenings from Thursday - Friday, September 3 - 4, audiences will experience a diverse group of Latinx and African American poets, performers, musicians, and activist speakers looking to elevate Black and Brown people, who have historically experienced a parallel dehumanization in the “United States of Amnesia." Our artists are here to remember and celebrate our culture and people.
We are grateful for all of your contributions, and Teatro Sin Fronteras will entertain and enlighten for a remembrance ritual to the many immigrants who have given of their blood, labor, and love to resurrect our “darling” New Orleans from flood waters and apocalyptic devastation 15 years ago. We rise as one!
En Español: Hace 15 años, yo me escape del caos social después del Huracán Katrina en un bus pirata que estaba rescatando familias Afro-Americanas y después de la inundación cuando los muros se quebraron con la furia de las lluvias. Era el mismo bus que rescato al músico premiao y icónico Allen Toussaint.
Cuando regrese un mes después para el primero de octubre, 2005, unos cientos y cientos de obreros latinos estaban en los techos de casas cubriéndolos con miles y miles de lonas azules para tapar los huecos de las lluvias. Eran un batallón de ángeles de reconstrucción encargados con los trabajos mas sucios en esos días, meses, y años después del huracán.
Teatro Sin Fronteras es un evento virtual de dos días con poesía, muisca, y actuaciones para el 15 aniversario después de la tormenta y para darle el reconocimiento adecuado a nuestra gente inmigrante que a contribuido de su sangre, sudor, y amor para levantar esta cuidad después de la gran inundación.
Es nuestro deseo de desarrollar apoyó y fondos para dos organizaciones comunitarias que sirven a nuestra gente inmigrante y a nuestros compatriotas Afro-Americanos que estamos en la lucha para la justicia social.
Nuestros artistas están de acuerdo que Familias Unidas En Acción y TAKE ‘EM DOWN NOLA son organizaciones que merecen nuestro apoyó.
El evento es GRATIS pero pueden DONAR a esta campaña de GOFUNDME, y los fondos se van a distribuir entre las dos organizaciones y para ofrecerles honorarios a los artistas que están dando de su tiempo y talento para Teatro Sin Fronteras.
Nosotros estamos en acuerdo que las "Vidas Negras Tienen Valor"
y que "Ningún Ser Humano Es Ilegal!."
Nuestro evento va a entretener con artistas de conciencia social porque que "no tenemos paciencia para gente sin conciencia." Juntos venceremos.
Ashé y Adelante y Si Se Puede!
José Torres-Tama y Teatro Sin Fronteras
