Yolanda Bonnell: Why I Don’t Want White Critics To Review My Work

“Indigenous performance has been grossly under-reviewed andwhile the tide is shifting, the lens with which predominantly whitecritics view the work has been problematic. The lack of IBPOC voices inthe media—at a time when arts’ coverage is shrinking—means white criticsare often the gatekeepers of success. Thereis often a tone along the lines of ‘I don’t understand this, thereforeit’s not valid or good art.’ Aspects like style, movement, language,