Black Lives, Black Words

32 Short Plays

Reginald Edmund

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN:
  9781786821515
• eBook ISBN:
  9781786821522
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: American Drama

Selected and edited by the award-winning American playwright Reginald Edmund, who produced Black Lives, Black Words across the US, which premiered in Chicago, July 2015. The international project has explored the black diaspora's experiences in some of the largest multicultural cities in the world, Chicago, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Toronto and London. Over sixty Black writers from the UK, USA, and Canada have each written a short play to address Black issues today.

"I started Black Lives, Black Words because I felt there needed to be an opportunity for me as a playwright to speak out against the sins committed in this world inflicted upon black bodies: Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Rekia Boyd, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, and the countless many others. This in turn caused me to wonder what other artists were out there that possess this overwhelming desire to speak out for the unheard voices. Companies in Minneapolis with Guthrie Theatre, Carlyle Brown and Company, Bedlam Theatre, Freestyle Theatre, the Million Artist Movement, in Maryland – Columbia Arts Festival, Chicago – Polarity Ensemble Theatre, Toronto – Obsidian Theatre, Buddies and Bad Times Theatre, and the National Arts Centre, along with many others joined us and now, two years later we have given voice to over sixty Black Playwrights and over a hundred performers. From city to city, Black Lives, Black Words has remained an event that is accessible and affordable to all. Embraced by a wide range of different theatres that vary in capacity, playing to houses from 70 to 300 audience members. Selling out in every venue. I collected these works showcased at BLBW events from all over in hopes that the narratives that have been placed in here speaks to the Black Struggle, Black Achievement, Black Love, Black Aspirations, Black Hopes, Black Dreams, BLACK EVERYTHING. I hope that the narratives amplify the importance of the Black Lives Matter Movement, that these plays find themselves in theatres both community and regional, in classrooms and libraries, church houses, and communal gathering serving as a rallying cry for those that are artists and even those who are not that OUR BLACK LIVES MATTER, individually, globally, and spiritually." - Reginald Edmund, Managing Curating Producer, Black Lives, Black Words

Featured in this collection are: Reginald Edmund, Idris Goodwin, James Austin Williams, Rachel Dubose, Becca C. Browne, Marsha Estell, Aaron Holland, Loy A. Webb, Lisa Langford, Christina Ham, Harrison David Rivers, Dominique Morisseau, Winsome Pinnock, Trish Cooke, Mojisola Adebayo, Rachel De-Lahay, Max Kolaru, Yolanda Mercy, Somalia Seaton, Courttia Newland, Luke Reece, Tawiah BenEben M'Carthy, Jordan Laffrenier, Meghan Swaby, Mary Ann Anane, Allie Woodson, Elliot Sagay, Amira Danan, Cat Davidson, Noelle Fourte, Kori Alston

BASS. TRUMPET. VOICE.

by Kori Alston

1. BASS

2. TRUMPET

3. VOICE

Note: This is a jam session.

Three black musicians, Bass, Trumpet, and Voice, enter an empty stage.

At first, they do not really acknowledge each other.

Bass mimes tuning an upright bass, vocally imitating his instrument.

Trumpet mimes testing out their trumpet, vocally imitating their instrument. Voice does a few vocal warmups.

In silence, they acknowledge the audience.

After a moment, they turn to each other:

1. Ready?
2. Ready.
3. Ready.
1. Five, six, five, six, seven, eight.
2. This song is for the heavens.
1. For the soil. For the earth.
2. This ...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Thoughts from the Managing Curating Producer
• Black Lives Matter
• Everybody Loves Big E
• #Matter
• BLM
• Officer Friendly
• Call and Response
• Black Girl in Bathtub
• For Colored Stoned Gay Bois
• I Am a Woman
• The Bomb
• In the Land where All Black Men Go
• This Bitter Earth
• Jezelle the Gazelle
• Speaking for the Unheard Voices
• The Principles of Cartography
• Left hangin’
• The Interrogation of Sandra Bland
• My White Best Friend
• Father’s Day
• His Life Matters
• Womb
• Manifesto
• Runnin’
• They
• 4 Students
• How I Sometimes Survive
• Letters to a Lost Friend
• Intimidating
• Hoop Dreams
• Milk
• Three Blackbirds
• Just a Thought
• Bass. Trumpet. Voice.
• What is Black Lives, Black Words International Project?