Rebbekah Ogden
Actor/Artist
ABOUTME
I assure you I am Brown. If you’re a White person you might say, “Brown? I’d swear you look Black!” If you’re Black you might say, “Nah you a White girl. “
What I’m really saying is I’m a product of generational cultural rebellion, a by-product of interracial curiosity, lust, rape, love, conception. Basically, primal human satisfaction.
Ultimately what I’m saying is “I’m worldly.” Which is a term that cracks me up every time I say it. Because I grew up with a Messianic, Jewish, Christian, Conservative worldview. That’s a very fancy way to say I believe in a monotheistic religion of there being one God, one Creator.
But honestly, at heart, I’m just a young artist trying to figure out where I came from, not only biologically but culturally. My past hides many generational secrets, legends, myths, and racial discrimination between brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. My art/philosophy wrestles with concepts of what it truly means to be multi-racial.
What I'm on About
A character. A choice. A story.
When we are truly listening
We interact with another's story
We live in their shoes for a time
We see with their eyes and we hear with their ears.
When we are truly engaged in their tale; hearing their defence
We understand their choices
We empathize with them
This is the power of theatre.
This is the storytelling I want to engage with
I want to share stories that open our eyes to someone else's worldview with compassion
No, with more than that
To give each other space to believe something different.
We are all human
But we are not all called to be exactly like one another
To have the same belief as someone else
We can and should, sit and learn from those who have a different perspective.
I say:
Away with titles and phrases
Away with racism and discrimination
Tear down preconceived opinion
We are human.
We must look past our racial appearance and religious adherence
Be sisters with different mothers
Brothers with one another
Siblings of all different colours.
We can and we should listen
We will listen
I will listen
Now speak your story
I am here to hear.
