Show Provides Insight
Tribute to iconic leaders inspires modern analysisDan HanowerTHE SANTA CLARAJanuary 16, 2014
Students and faculty alike gathered to commemorate the lives of Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr. with “Color Struck,” a captivating performance by Donald Lacy, Jr.For moments of the show, it seemed like a stand-up comedian was performing for the audience gathered in Mayer Theatre, but it soon became apparent that was not what the show was about. One of the most unique opportunities of Santa Clara is the many experiences it provides for students to learn from different perspectives, and that is exactly what students were able to gain from “Color Struck.” Lacy is a well-regarded comedian, and spent the first half of the show performing a routine based on his experiences growing up in Oakland, Calif. However, the humor Lacy provided only seemed to prime the audience for the real show to come. Sophomore Quincy Karp was one of many students who attended the show.“I thought he did a great job of tying in serious topics and trying to lighten the mood in the beginning,” said Karp. “Everyone was more comfortable with race, and then he brought it all together in the end.”Despite the comedic elements, it was clear that the more serious issue of race in America was the subject of this performance.The stories from Lacy’s past experiences revealed the role that race has had in his life, and the show was very relatable to anyone who has faced similar challenges.The comedy shed light on his struggle to hold onto elements of his African-American heritage growing up, despite not being seen as black by his peers.As the performance continued, he began to talk about the state of race relations in contemporary America, and the elements of racism that still persist. Lacy discussed institutionalized racism, an often difficult topic to honestly examine.“It definitely opened me up more to this struggle,” said Karp, “(as well as) how blatant and obvious this is.”Overall, the performance allowed students to gain another perspective, another chance to deepen their worldview, in order to better understand the society in which they live. Contact Dan Hanower at dhanower@scu.edu.