Leslie Cuyjet’s Solo Explores Life Insurance’s Historical Ties to Black Life Value

The article discusses Leslie Cuyjet's multidisciplinary solo performance, "For All Your Life," which examines the value placed on Black life and death through the lens of the life insurance industry. The work investigates historical ties between the insurance business and the slave trade, exploring how systems of power have monetized human lives, particularly Black lives. Cuyjet developed the performance during the pandemic, incorporating research and inspiration from various visual and performance artists while experimenting with video and text. The piece is staged as a seminar-style presentation resembling a sales pitch, designed to engage audiences in reflecting on how the insurance industry assigns monetary value to life and mortality. Humor is used as a tool to address sensitive topics, allowing for layered discussions without directly naming difficult themes. This BAM debut is significant for Cuyjet as a first-time BAM performer and longtime subscriber, marking an expansion of her work and outreach. The performance emphasizes collaboration, with co-director and co-producer support helping shape the final production. The project is envisioned as a continuing, evolving exploration for Cuyjet throughout her career, with intentions for future iterations and broad audience accessibility. The piece contributes to ongoing discourse about the intersection of insurance practices, historical injustices, and cultural reflections on life and death value systems.