Black As Eye Wanna Be

Black As Eye Wanna Be is an early solo work by Po’Chop that emerged from Chicago’s queer, feminist nightlife and evolved into an evening-length burlesque performance. Originally conceived for the underground dance party Crimson Glow, the work was later presented at the Chicago Fringe Festival in 2014 and the Steppenwolf LookOut Series in 2017. Working across burlesque, dance, spoken word, and ritual gesture, the piece explores Black femininity, sexuality, spirituality, oppression, and victory within the context of American history. Set to a linear, mixtape-style soundscape featuring Black women musicians across time, the work invited audiences to participate by offering objects representing their relationship to oppression, which were held, exchanged, and ultimately released as part of the performance’s closing ritual.