After widespread public outrage, the National Arts Centre (NAC) is backing out of a controversial plan to have an evening of theatre reserved exclusively for an “all-black” audience.
Critics accused the Ottawa theatre of discriminating based on race, which contradicts federal and provincial human rights legislation.
After limiting the event “exclusively” to an all-black audience, the federal theater has since changed the admissions, saying they now “will welcome black audiences.”
The story came to the attention of the public last week after Canadian media personality Jonathan Kay raised concerns about the race-based attendance requirement on Twitter.
“Canada’s National Arts Centre is now hosting racially segregated shows. This one is only for blacks. But I’m sure other races will get their turn,” tweeted Kay.
A Jan. 16 news release of the “Black Out Nights” event explained how the Is God Is theatre performance was exclusively available to black participants.
“The evenings will provide a dedicated space for Black theatergoers to witness a show that reflects the vivid kaleidoscope that is the Black experience,” wrote the NAC.
After being asked to respond to accusations that the show was tantamount to racial segregation, an NAC spokesperson told True North that this was not the case.
“There are no racially segregated shows at the NAC,” said the NAC spokesperson.
“Of the nine performances of Is God Is, we have dedicated one performance to those who self-identify as Black and their guests. No one will be turned away at the door; there will be no checkpoints for Black Out Night ticket holders and no questions will be asked about anyone’s identity or race.”
Canada’s Human Rights Code explicitly states that equal treatment with respect to services is protected under the law.
“Every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities, without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin,” states the legislation.
