As we confront harmful racist casting practices in theater, it is critical to change our perspective. We must flip the narrative to see things through another community's lens. Theater excels in offering such opportunities.
This joyful and challenging message speaks to me for its use of musical theater to convey a unity among the BIPOC (Black Indigenous and People of Color) creative community.
Inspired by Wicked, Token Goat Song is written by Rona Siddiqui and performed by Broadway’s Mykal Kilgore with Wicked alums Gizel Jiménez and Kathryn Allison.
The lyrics, if you cannot read the captions, follow:
In a room, no one looks like me. No reflection in film or ads or TV
Get the job, fill the quota, feel so lonely
Can't be the only one, won't be the only one
Smile and nod, make them feel nice and comfy
Chime in, just as long as it's in harmony
With the thought and the deeds of his wizardry
Can't be the only one, won't be the only one
And I've been hoofin' all this time
To someone's beat that isn't mine
This is the token goat song
Not the sugar coat song
The sit up and take note song
Before the token goat is gone
When they hand me the mic, hard to say a word
One word I say must epitomize the whole herd
When's the last time your family all concurred
Can't be the only one, won't be the only one
See my skin as a win, give themselves a hand
They feel safe as they pop their heads back in the sand
Left alone, trying to figure out just where I stand
And I've been praying 'til I'm hoarse
To find a way to change this course
This is the token goat song
The time to wreck the boat song
The sit up and take note song
Before the token goat is gone
If you feel alone and broken
Dropped in the slot to be the token
Then truer words cannot be spoken
You're not the only one, you're not the only one
If you feel alone and broken
Stifled and squelched like you've been chokin'
Then truer words cannot be spoken
You're not the only one, you're not the only one
You're not the only one
Grab your camera, grab your pen, write your own play
Grab your track, feel the vibe of your own bray
Tell your truth, tell your story in your own way
You're not the only one
This is the token goat song
The shout it from your throat song
The sit up and take note song
Before the token goat is gone
You're not the only one
It is imperative
To keep the narrative
To need security
You're not the only one, you're not the only one
~Rona Siddiqui
