Performance artist Damali Ayo says racism at times has stressed her to the point of physical illness. “And sometimes I have gotten in arguments that have put my stomach in knots.”
The outrage “churns on the inside,” she says–and then she channels it into a powerful piece of art. One of her latest works is Rent-a-negro.com.
The site, clearly satirical to all but the clueless, offers to rent out a black person to attend events, because “these days, those who claim black friends and colleagues are on the cutting edge of social and political trends.”
The service includes rentals for business meetings, to provide “a black perspective”; for individuals who decide that spending time with a black person “would be good for me”; and for emergencies. (“My only black friend just got the flu and my big party is tomorrow!”)
Costs range from $100 for drop-in visits–so friends think you’re especially cool–to the $350-an-hour corporate rate. Additional services include $25 to touch the rental person’s hair and $250 dance lessons for the rhythmically challenged.
In short, Ayo is tired of whites constantly asking her about being black.
“And white privilege makes people relentless in that pursuit,” she told Q. “Libraries are wonderful resources. Just because I’m standing in your midst doesn’t mean I’m required to answer your questions. But white people go with the mentality of entitlement.” Ayo, 31, has been asked if she isn’t “commodifying” the relationship between whites and blacks with her Web site. “The relationship is already commodified,” she said. “It’s just that the cost is on the wrong party. Right now, I’m paying the price.”
Though she has received requests, Ayo hasn’t expanded her art and gone to a “rental” event. Meanwhile, she’s taking on a new performance piece: panhandling for reparations in her home city, Portland, Ore.
