MisSa Blue is a legendary German performer who has lived in London for years, because she was so sick of German racism.
Yes, there’s racism in Germany. Disingenuous, gaslighting racism, and violent, murderous racism. MisSa Blue grew up with white adoptive parents in the beautiful German countryside, and that’s one of the things she talks about in her powerful new work in progress, The Rising of the Black Sheep.
I met MisSa last summer when she facilitated the Performer’s Panel on Cultural Appropriation in Showbiz at Berlin Burlesque Week. That panel had a huge impact on my understanding of how to be an ally and how to do anti-racism work, and I am so grateful to MisSa and the panelists and the BBWeek team for making it happen. I also drew MisSa during her Birthday Extravaganza earlier this summer!
Below, you can see MisSa talk about sword swallowing and other things in her TEDx talk.
The Rising of the Black Sheep is a mixed media performance which is being developed, and MisSa hopes to bring it to the stage, when there are stages again.
The sold-out show was live-streamed to an international audience – Alotta Boutte who I knew in the Bay Area was in it! – and we stayed for a Q&A afterwards. We were all moved and grateful to have been present for the show.
You can follow MisSa on Instagram here and check her website for updates on the development of “Rising” and other projects.
Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana is the first woman of African descent to be elected to European Parliament from Germany.
On June 17, she told the parliament in Brussels that she had been physically abused by Brussels police while attempting to stop the harassment of Black kids. As an MEP, she was in Brussels because the European parliament was due to vote on a non-binding resolution against racism! The Belgian police have brought a defamation complaint against the 71 year old professor!! That’s where the situation stands. It is horrifying, and so typical of Brussels.
I drew this using reference from a photo by Daina Le Lardic.
I never draw from photos but I had to talk about this story which should be the shame of Europe, and Dr Pierrette who is a jewel in the crown of Parliament. I am following the case and waiting to see if Dr. Pierrette receives an apology or has to go to court.