Recently the infamous Nottoway Plantation has burned to the ground. Based on the news you would never know that Nottoway Plantation is the largest surviving antebellum plantation house in the Southern United States. John Randolph commissioned renowned architect Henry Howard of New Orleans with the task of designing the grand mansion. Randolph ordered all his slaves to build his house. Handmade bricks were baked in kilns by enslaved African Americans, and 40 carpenters, brick masons, and plumbers were hired by Howard, who lived in tents at the construction site while doing their work. The original goal of John was to create a cotton plantation, but because he wanted to make the most profit, he transitioned to a sugar cane plantation. After his death in 1883, he willed this plantation to his wife, who sold it in 1889, prior to her death in 1904. At its peak, Nottoway held 155 enslaved people. At one point, John increased his holdings to include 7,116 acres and 176 enslaved people.

Despite the atrocities that occurred on the grounds of this plantation, people continued to get married and held proms there. They are actively choosing to erase the true history in favor of a whitewashed, more palatable version. One that fits the aesthetic of their big day.
The reaction to the destruction of the plantation was similar to the reactions when confederate monuments were coming down over a decade ago. On one side you have those who choose to see these monuments as a tribute to the past, to their heritage and do not understand why people are indifferent to their destruction. On the other, you have those who view these plantations and statues as a celebration of a dark time in the history of this country, as a celebration of hatred and division. Most of these statues were erected after the Civil War, with the majority of them being erected between 1900 and 1920 and 1950s and the 60s. You’ll notice that these dates coincide with the enactment of Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights movements. They were not put up to celebrate a heritage, but a call back to a time of servitude and violence.
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If we insist on paying homage to a time gone by, we need to do it appropriately and in a way that tells the whole ugly truth, regardless of how uncomfortable and unpleasant it is to hear. Anything less is a disserve to the people who fought and died on those grounds.  

The Shubert Queer Alliance is thrilled to again host a Pride Happy Hour!
 
Join us on Friday, June 13, 5-7pm in the Green Room Lounge at New World Stages for food, drinks, and the opportunity to connect with your fellow queer colleagues and allies - the whole Shubert family is welcome! 
 
See the attached invitation for additional information, and use the following link to RSVP:  https://forms.gle/yT1923g9rKqSoZLa7
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“I wake up and immediately wish the day was over so I could go back to sleep”.  “"I get nightmares and experience night terrors. Things I enjoy doing, like running or reading, don’t bring me joy because I can’t turn my mind off” “I normally don’t get headaches, but I started needing painkillers every day. Bursting into tears when someone asked me to do even a small extra task.”

What do these statements have in common? They have all been said by someone suffering from burnout. I’m sure we’ve all heard the term burnout, or maybe even used it ourselves, but what exactly is burnout.  Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or repeated stress. It's often characterized by feelings of exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of reduced accomplishment. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s important to recognize how burnout can impact your mental health. Burnout can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, such as exhaustion and withdrawal. So, what does burnout look like, how can you spot it? 

What leads to burnout? How did we get here. There are many factors, and it’s not just work related. We are more connected to each other now than we have ever been.  The constant contact and communication can feel overwhelming. Being tethered to your phone with the endless alerts can have you on edge.  How do you manage then?  I have turned off my news alerts, because I found that I was always nervous when I saw a breaking news alert notification. I also utilize the Do Not Disturb function on my phone, this way I don’t feel the necessity to be there for everyone all the time.
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Stress is a part of life that we’ll all experience. The issue comes when that’s all you experience.  We are not meant to live in a state of perpetual fight or flight. That’s why it’s important to recognize the signs of burnout and have a plan of action when they start to manifest. I’ve told you what I do when I start to feel overwhelmed; how do you manage your burnout?