As I wrote in my latest editorial, I recently learned something personally that I had previously known only on principle. Brutal ICE raids ultimately harm everyone, not just the immigrants they target. When a whole neighborhood, town, or population fears law enforcement, and our courts and worksites and hospitals are teeming with intimidating immigration officers, law-abiding people (regardless of their residency status) become afraid to work, report crimes, come forward as witnesses, or seek healthcare. That makes all of us less prosperous, less healthy, and less safe.
Earlier this year, my longtime partner, a US-born citizen who is Chinese American, had ICE agents bang on his door. They wore no badges, numbers, or names, and they came in an unmarked car at 6am. We don't know if they'll be back. But that fear is probably the whole point.
The BSR community, including our staff, is full of immigrants and the children of immigrants. My own great-grandfather was an immigrant. Regardless of their residency status, immigrants need our empathy. But not only because it's the right thing to do. This terror will just keep spreading until nobody is safe. That's why empathy is not just about kindness. It's about the courage to see that others are just like you, instead of inventing reasons that you're different. If you don't act, the danger that comes for them can come for you, too.
Judging from my inbox in the past, I'm sure there are folks reading this who are thinking get back to the arts! or why are you being political? But I believe the arts are, at heart, all about empathy for others: a window on others' experiences and struggles and inspirations, a way to understand stories outside of your own and feel connected to others. A way to realize that others' emotional landscape is just as complex and important as yours. As arts journalists, we at BSR can't ignore it when our community is being traumatized. Not to mention the fact that immigrants and the descendants of immigrants are what make the Philly cultural scene so vibrant.
I welcome your responses to my piece.
This week's stories
In this week's other stories, Gail Obenreder heads to Newark, DE for an impressive production of August Wilson's autobiographical solo show. It runs through September 20. New BSR writer Gauri Mangala rounds up some great non-theater September cultural events, including exhibitions and festivals, as well Fringe Festival picks based on classics from the Ancient Greeks.
If you're on Instagram, I will be going live today (Wednesday) at noon ET to chat about the kickoff of the Fringe with our social-media manager Chhaya Nayyar. Find us at @broadstreview and drop in if you're online!
Look out for a change
Our newsletter schedule is about to temporarily shift! There will be no newsletter tomorrow morning, but we'll be with you on Friday, to share our first batch of Fringe reviews as we head into the weekend. And don't forget that you can follow mini-reviews of everything I see this month in my editor's guide, which is already updated for the three shows I saw last night.
Alaina Johns
BSR editor-in-chief
