Multico:  Youth facing discrimination head-on via stage
  By Laura Salinger
     They come from different backgrounds and races. They are Asian, White, Black, and Latino. Every day they face the same challenges that students commonly face in multicultural, urban school environments. Yet, these students face these challenges in a unique way. They combat discrimination boldly in on-stage performances that tackle issues of race, class, gender, sexual identity, and conflict. They are called "Multico" and they are not afraid to talk about issues that even adults often avoid.
      On a blistery winter day in December, Madison West High School's theater group Multico performed for students at Elvejhem Elementary School in Madison. Elvejhem's gymnasium was abuzz with excited chatter as elementary students filed down the hallway to the large room. They were greeted by enthusiastic high school students who gave them high fives or words of encouragement.
      As classes of students filled up the gym, Multico stepped to the front with an abundance of energy to perform skits that openly discuss race, class, and sexual identity. Written by students for students, the skits challenge students to think critically about how they view race and discrimination
      In one skit, a young man performs skillful ballet moves, dancing gracefully across the floor. As he does so, he narrates.
      "When I first started dancing, people [called me] a fairy," he said as he twirled and leapt. "I'm straight. Don't question what I do. Don't question who I am. I'm Justin."
      In another skit, Asian American students discuss being typecast as Chinese, although they come from a variety of countries spanning across Asia and beyond.
      "I hate it when people think I'm Chinese and they don't even ask," one student said. Another retorts, "Yeah, I wish they would just ask."
      In yet another skit, students discussed the skin they live in.
    
     "The skin I'm in is just a covering," they said. "If you want to know who I am, you've got to come inside. We are all inside -- made up of real history, real dreams."
      Other skits talked about having gay parents or cross-cultural friends. Most of the skits come from the students' own experiences.
      For nine years, Multico has toured elementary and middle schools to perform original 30-minute productions. The group was started by West High School drama teacher Rebecca Jallings in an effort to tackle her own insecurities about teaching in a multicultural classroom. Jallings grew up in a small town in White, rural Wisconsin and faced a number of challenges teaching in a racially diverse environment. In the beginning, Multico was as much about getting Jallings comfortable with race and class differences, as it was about teaching students to embrace differences.
      "I was very uncomfortable being a White teacher," she said. "I wanted to work on not feeling so uncomfortable with kids of color in my classes."
      Jallings got the idea for Multico from her sister, who was teaching a similar drama class in Toronto. Unlike her sister's group, which took place outside of the school day, Jallings wanted to create a drama class that would fit into the school schedule. The drama class has since become one of her most popular classes and each year, students vie for a coveted spot in the class of 23. Jallings makes sure to create a troupe that reflects the diverse ethnic and racial population of Madison schools.
      One of the things that stands out about Multico, aside from the abundance of talent that these young actors demonstrate, is the student's fearlessness when it comes to speaking openly and boldly about race and class issues.
      "There is a lot of power in naming things," Jallings said. Multico gives teachers a powerful tool to discuss difficult issues. Once it's out in the open, Jallings said, teachers are much more comfortable discussing race, sexual identity, and discrimination with their students.
      "If you are a teacher, then you are dealing with this stuff every day," she said. "This gives teachers another way of talking about these issues. Because we name it, then they can name it."
      Students involved in Multico say they too have benefitted from "naming" racism and discrimination issues.
      "It gets rid of stereotypes if you start naming it," 11th grader Simon said.
      Allegra, a 12th grader, added, "There is so much power in naming things. By naming it, we are dealing with it and we are trying to deal with it in a positive way."
      At their tender age, these students have already learned lessons that many adults have yet to learn.
      "If everyone opens up, everything would be much better," Justin, an 11th grader, said.
      Sarah, who is in 12th grade, said, "I think I've learned more about who I am. By being in this class, you get a whole different perspective. It helps us to really see each other for what we are."
      And what these students are goes well beyond the color of their skin, their gender, or their sexual identity. They are a diverse group of adolescents with a variety of talents, emotions, experiences, and viewpoints. In their open and honest performances, they share these with younger students who learn, at least for the moment, that who we are is much more than how we look.
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