PLEASE do the following. Get on your phone, your tablet, your whatever it is you use to surf the interwebs and go to www.uptheater.org/ to get tickets to see the latest production from the Up Theater Company, Detained. Set in an actual immigrant detention facility (AKA a prison) in Texas, Detained takes you to the frontlines of the vicious war on immigrants. It is not pretty. Lives are being destroyed maliciously and without regard to decency or due process. The huddled masses yearning to be free have a sanctuary no more. Written by Rose-Mary Harrington, Detained holds up a mirror to the horror show that America is becoming. With a simply outstanding and accomplished cast and ably directed by Nancy Robillard, you will be moved. This is cutting edge, audacious and provocative theater being made and consumed right here on Planet Uptown. This must be supported. Get your tickets pronto. You have until April 28. You have been warned. Thank me later. Dr. James Marion Sims is considered the father of modern gynecology. Until last week, his statue stood solemnly on Fifth Avenue and 103rd Street. The thing is, he obtained his knowledge by experimenting on enslaved Black women. Without anesthesia, may I add, because he believed that Black people did not feel pain. Photographer Cristóbal Vivar of the Manhattan Times snapped some powerful images of the statue being removed from El Barrio. Good riddance. Sarah Zhang of The Atlantic penned a wonderful piece, “The Surgeon Who Experimented On Slaves,” which takes a deeper dive into the troubled legacy of the Dr. Sims as well as the American medical system in general. Washington Heights’ own Audubon is back with Risky Business. One of the greatest rappers to ever come out of the Heights, Audubon continues to represent us properly and make solid music. Can’t wait to hear what else is to come. Congrats to the Latinos Out Loud crew on their 50th episode. This week the team chop it about #Beychella, Desus and Mero shout outs and holograms. The special guest this week is Grammy-nominated salsa singer Miss Yaya Vargas. Keep checking us out at www.uptowncollective.com. Led Black Editor-in-Chief The Uptown Collective The UC’s mission is to become “the” definitive, transformative and community-based force impacting the arts, culture, business and New York City’s overall perception of Upper Manhattan. Its objective is to reset, reboot and positively redefine Uptown’s artistic, political, cultural and business spheres via the online space as well the collective’s initiatives and functions. April 16 – April 21
