Jim Crow laws still on the books are currently keeping 1.4 million black men (that's 13 percent of the national black male adult population) from entering the voting booth. I Voted for Gummi Bears, a one-person show written and performed by Minneapolis artist Ochen K., dissects these laws, their history, and their effects through stories of those struggling to love this country while being told their voice doesn't matter.
Laws restricting the voting rights of convicted felons were enacted alongside poll taxes and literacy tests in the late 19th century. One Southern senator even described the felon voting restrictions as an insurance policy, should courts strike down the more blatant laws. Companion laws that allow lesser, non-violent crimes to carry felony convictions (a felony is any crime that could result in a prison sentence over one year) such as minor drug possession, and a "drug war" targeting inner-city, minority populations, combine to create a whole new form of institutional racism. "I Voted for Gummi Bears" follows the history, enforcement, and consequences of felon voting rights laws by presenting narratives of those directly impacted.
Reviews
"Make sure to see this one. ... Not only is this one of the best plays in the Fringe this year, it is probably the most important one. Don't overlook this gem."
"Stimulating substance with an emotional punch. I Voted For Gummi Bears is both deeply personal and engrossingly political in the best and broadest definition of that word. ... It is intellectually stimulating in a way that few shows are."
"Lightly humorous, wildly informative, and disturbingly compelling. This is a fantastic show."
"This is theater that shocked me, and made me want to go out and do something to effect real change. I don't often come out of theater enlightened and energized, but this time, I did."
Contact info
Ochen K.
113 W. Island Ave. B
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 414-1116
ochen@ochenk.com
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