A production at University of Portland featured the play The Thanksgiving Play, which satirizes well‑meaning white characters attempting to craft an inclusive Thanksgiving performance while reckoning with historical injustice. The portrayal has ignited debate over cultural representation, academic priorities, and campus free expression.
The theatre department at the University of Portland chose Native American playwright Larissa FastHorse’s piece, where the setting is a fictional children’s Thanksgiving play created by “four well‑meaning white characters” in Portland, a city known for progressive culture. Director Phillip Guevara described the production as focusing on “white people grappling with genocide … erasure, white supremacy, misogyny.”
One faculty member involved in the production stated the play highlights the problem of “white people’s performative sense of social justice” that ends up causing harm rather than addressing core issues. The article points to examples such as anti‑racist book clubs, placards denouncing prejudice, and lists of favorite minority‑owned restaurants as forms of what the play considers surface‑level activism.
Critics argue the play and its framing illustrate how liberal arts programs increasingly prioritize identity themes and social justice critique over traditional curricula. Observers ask whether such productions align with the university’s broader educational mission or serve niche ideological agendas. Supporters contend the play invites self‑reflection and challenges institutions to go beyond symbolic gestures toward genuine change.
This event matters because it underscores tensions between academic freedom, campus culture, and public accountability. Universities face pressure to adopt inclusive content while also maintaining open intellectual environments where controversial ideas—about race, history, and identity—can be examined. For stakeholders concerned about higher education’s direction, this production is one more flashpoint in that broader cultural conversation.
