By Lookout Staff

March 29, 2023 -- A live, multimedia, interactive presentation at Santa Monica College (SMC) this week will explore the many faces of racism through personal stories and a community dialogue.

The four free performances of “Race Relay – Santa Monica” kick-off a new series of regularly scheduled community dialogues about racial issues facing the country, college officials said.

The performances take place at the Center for Media and Design, 1660 Stewart Street, at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday; 6:30 p.m. on Friday, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 1.

The performances feature actors "recounting true-life situations" and include multi-screen images, music, and movement, event organizers said.

"RACE RELAY brings audiences of various ethnicities together to share their experiences around racism in a safe, non-threatening environment," organizers said.

"Racism is a struggle we have all been dealing with since the millennia. RACE Relay strives to break down tribalism and the constructs that separate us, by using the authentic stories of ourselves and our experiences."

Director Denise Hamilton will be joined by movement specialist Fred Sugerman and master percussionist Christo Pellani to create "an interactive performance combining insightful, frank, compelling, and sometimes humorous stories with news reports while engaging the audience in movement."

Each production is followed by a community circle discussion where personal sharing is encouraged, organizers said.

“It gives audience members opportunities to hear and respect different perspectives, which is one of its major goals,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton added that the response to RACE RELAY presentations in different communities over several years has been “overwhelmingly positive.”

The performances are presented in collaboration with the SMC Public Policy Institute; SMC Associated Students; SMC Division of Equity, Pathways & Inclusion; SMC Student Equity Center, SMC Community and Academic Relations, Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council, and the City of Santa Monica.

Additional follow-up community dialogue discussions will take place at the SMC Student Equity Center in the upcoming weeks, SMC officials said.

RACE RELAY also leads into the SMC Public Policy Institute’s Spring 2023 Symposium. All events are free, but reservations are required due to limited seating.

To register for the event, visit smc.edu/racerelay.