DALE RICARDO SHIELDS
ARTIST / ARCHIVIST / ARTISTIC ACTIVIST / HISTORIAN
As America reckons with generations of racial injustice and destroyed hidden history, the stories that we will preserve, present, and honor are the very things that will hopefully foster world empathy, change lives, and ensure that our next generations of Americans have a different and positive view of themselves and their neighbors.
I must be a motivating catalyst, an actor for justice, a director of change, and an artist of choice.
Art is my weapon…
TURN YOUR PAIN INTO PURPOSE*
The next generation deserves to have the opportunity to gain the wisdom and strength of ALL these LIFE stories
I understand our history – I have experienced, witnessed and research it… both celebrated and mourn it… It has made me stronger!
“I LOVE ART”
Andrew Nichols (Artist)
ABOUT DALE RICARDO SHIELDS
Dale walked past and repeated, “Write what is in your heart.” I took a deep breath and poured out my heart – all of the thoughts and emotions that I had been holding onto so tightly because I was afraid to share them with anyone. I finished… I stared at the words. I had no idea this was in me. It was cathartic to put it all on paper. And then Dale asked us to read our monologues… Now when I hesitate to say something, I think of Dale and know that my voice matters.
DR. NICOLE BRINKMANN REEVES -[FORMER COLLEGE STUDENT]
I have known Professor Shields’ work in the area of theatre productions and have visited his excellent classes. I have attended his thought-provoking productions. He is incredibly passionate, understanding, compassionate, intelligent, engaging, truthful, and persistent. His “real-world experience” is a major positive component of working with him. He leads by example, actively striving to cut down barriers and serve as a role model for students.
DR. MIRIAM HARRIS (PROFESSOR – MACALESTER COLLEGE)
Shields did not expressly set out to become an educator-activist. However, his belief in the artist’s responsibility to society resulted in an overwhelming need to represent, serve, and uplift the next generation of theatre professionals by actively sharing his extensive artistic knowledge with multiple and diverse audiences. Shields has dedicated his life to preparing, raising up, and celebrating the countless young theatrical artists who were fortunate to have been taught and led by him.”
JULIO AGUSTIN (BROADWAY THEATRE ARTIST)
Over the past two decades, I have witnessed Dale’s research across the Internet, information that he freely shares with all who are interested. In an in-depth factual format, he enlightens the public with the history of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous American art forms. I share his drive to educate people on the history and cultural contributions of communities of color. This shared passion exemplifies just one more reason Dale and I have remained friends all these years.
EDAN EVANS DEROZIERE (ALUMNI – Theatre Artist)
I have known Dale Shields since 1987, when I directed the Arts and Education Department for legendary producer Joseph Papp at The New York Shakespeare Festival in New York. Even though he was highly recommended by key artists, directors, and choreographers of the New York establishment, it was my observation of his theater and teaching abilities during the Arts and Education Department’s Teacher Training that impressed me and endeared me to his style, ease of collaboration, and depth of experience.
ARTHUR WILSON (NYSF)
Professor Shields is a tough love, no bs, theatre professor who, with his experience and history in theatre, uses his knowledge to help you not only better yourself but also gives you advice to better your future college education. He gives a ton of information in each class, and participation is key.”
FORMER STUDENT (RATE MY PROFESSOR)
Terrance Ballard – “Bamboozled“
(No copyright infringement intended) ©2022
PROFILES
Abdel Salaam✨ Alde Lewis✨ Adelle Gautier✨ Arthur Theodore Wilson
B’nard Lewis✨Carla Earle✨Carol Sutton✨Chapman Roberts✨Chuck Cooper
Cicely Louise Tyson✨Duchess Harris, Ph.D., JD✨Dale Ricardo Shields✨Debra Byrd
Dooley Wilson✨Nefretete Rasheed✨Dyane Harvey-Salaam✨Eugene Lee
Faith Ringgold✨Fannie Lou Hammer / Fela✨Frank Espada✨Fred Benjamin✨John Hope Franklin
Jonelle Allen✨Johnny Nash✨Kathy A. Perkins✨Lady Peachena
✨Lorraine Vivian Hansberry✨Louis Johnson✨Mary Seymour
✨Martin Espada✨Niles Fitch✨Pura Fé
✨Robert FlemingRobert Hooks✨Ruben Santiago-Hudson✨Sandra Reaves-Phillips✨Slim Mello
Stan Brown✨Samuel Légitimus✨Shirley Taylor✨Stanley Wayne Mathis
Thurgood Marshall✨Stephen Wiltshire✨Victor Love✨Venida Evans
Vickilyn Reynolds✨Vinnette Carroll✨Vinnie Bagwell✨ Vinie Burrows
✨William Edmondson
HISTORICAL PROFILES
The Little Rock Nine
The Scottsboro Boys
Benjamin Banneker
Leigh Whipper
Marcus Gravey
The Secret Meeting that Changed Rap Music
The Civil Radical Battles of Black American Soldiers
The Devils Punchbowl
The Tougaloo Nine
Media Depictions of the Mammy Archetype
The Shields Brothers Gospel Singers
Kevin A. Williams/WAK (Artist)
“We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
~*~
“Art is a weapon in the struggle of ideas…
The artist’s role is to raise the consciousness of the people.
To make them understand life, the world, and themselves more completely.”
Imamu Amiri Baraka
~*~
“We are a people.
A people do not throw their geniuses away.
And if they are thrown away, it is our duty as artists and as witnesses for the future to collect them again for the sake of our children, and, if necessary, bone by bone.”
Alice Walker
“The Colour of Black”
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye (Artist)
