Art as activism: Our stories must be told

“Pass Over” actors Dahveed Bullis, left, and Matt Slater rehearse at Stage Left Theater in Spokane on May 24, 2022. Actor Danny Anderson joined them in performing “Pass Over,” years later, at the Mondial du Théâtre International Festival in Monaco in August.  (KATHY PLONKA/The Spokesman-Review)
Black Lens staff reports

Spokane’s own Stage Left Theater recently took Antoinette Nwandu’s Pass Over to Monaco, sharing local artistry on an international stage.

For artist Dahveed Bullis, this production has a four-year journey, and its unfiltered power continues to resonate worldwide. The play unpacks racialized trauma and examines how the lingering effects of systemic and structural racism shape Black communities.

Bullis chronicles the nuances of race in America in his Substack blog, “From Spokane to the World Stage: A Journey in Art, Grit, and Gratitude.” Art as activism remains a compelling tool for understanding human experience, and this story – candid, gritty, and deeply American – challenges audiences to confront the complexity of race, safety, and identity in the United States.