Pay No Attention To The (White) Man Behind The Curtain!

Did you think they'd reached the bottom of the barrel when it came to finding things that were 'racist and sexist'? Well, think again. Next in the crosshairs: magicians! Black ones (no, not Alastair Crowley).

Cardoza is one of the US’s only Black female magicians with her own touring show. Her Black Magic Tour blends stage magic and storytelling that highlights the Black illusionists who came before her.

Cardoza first fell in love with the craft when she saw a rabbit being pulled from a hat during her first magic show at five years old. But she didn’t begin practicing until about 20 years later, citing a lack of representation that hindered her ability to see herself in the performances she loved so much.

I think anyone who uses this excuse lacks imagination. 

Bias in the industry is also influenced by public perception. A 2019 study showed that the quality of magic tricks performed by women are perceived to be worse than the same ones done by men.

Magic books also tend to cater to male performers by referencing men’s clothing, such as suit breast pockets. And magic kits for children often feature pictures of white boys on the cover. A hollowed thumb tip made from plastic, a common prop in kits that can be worn to hide objects, usually resembles the color of a white person’s finger.

“Representation is so huge,” Cardoza said, “because people don’t think they can be things unless they see them.”

And you'd think imagibation would be a prime skill for an illusionist, wouldn't you? 

For Cardoza’s part, she plans to make magic more accessible to diverse practitioners and audiences. She launched a Kickstarter campaign to create an inclusive magic kit for children that recently met its fundraising goal. The kit will include a digital app where a diverse group of magicians will teach tricks and the etiquette of stage magic, such as asking for consent before touching a participant.

Surely in the modern age, stage magic is a thing of the past anyway?