about BLKprint | The BLKprint

Our Story

Sisterhood has been the key to building resilience to maximize our effectiveness in holding Pace University, the Actors Studio and the Actors Studio drama school accountable for securing and maintaining an equitable space for BIPOC students pursuing their MFAs. It flourished into an unbreakable bond as we, Brittaney, Melissa, Marcella, and Jalissa held space for each other to heal and celebrate our individual and collaborative successes. With each other, we have shared the energy and time of gathering resources to evolve and further our movement. This birthed the BLKprint network.

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, White America and the world were no longer able to ignore the brutality and racism faced by Black Americans. In the world of performing arts, as theaters were closed, Global Majority citizens began to reflect on and take action against racist practices throughout Broadway, businesses, theaters, schools, etc. George Floyd’s murder prompted companies and institutions to offer public commitments to solidarity, racial justice, and equity. Pace University was an institution, of many, to release this type of statement too.

This statement released by Pace University, was in direct contradiction to many of the experiences Global Majority students (graduate study students from the Actors Studio Drama School (ASDS) and undergraduate acting/theater students) experienced during their respective times of study at Pace. C/O 2018 Alumna, Brittaney Chatman decided to stand up to the faculty, staff, and administration of ASDS at Pace University to hold them accountable for the harm they caused Black and other BIPOC students over the years. She kicked things off with a letter addressed to ASDS, demanding they restructure their MFA program with equitable practices & a diverse curriculum.

Brittaney, joined by Melissa Mowry and Marcella Adams organized and executed a two week town hall series where BIPOC alumni were given a space to speak on the macro and micro-aggressions they encountered over the years. At the start, progress and action seemed imminent, but after the town halls stopped, the marches around the world ceased, and a few changes were made by ASDS - everything halted, in terms of positive change. The support, thought to be gained, was performative. From the staff, faculty, and allies.

As we moved forward, joined by Jalissa Fulton, the four Founders of BLKprint have been working on their own to create effective change within the ASDS program and have made steady strides. This experience at ASDS is not unique, and highlights how the representation of black voices, especially those of Black women, are missing in the arts as a whole is still lacking heavily. The solution that Brittaney, Melissa, Marcella, and Jalissa could provide is to bring awareness to and promote the art being created by black women. While we spread awareness about the ways systemic racism impacts BIPOC students in both the arts and higher education, we know there are others out there that want to take action within their institutions but are unsure how. We recognize the importance of celebrating and uplifting the brilliance that is created by artists impacted by systemic racism and the importance of community and sharing how they are building a pathway forward - the BLKprint.