They Still Want to Kill Us

Now Playing | About the Work | Credits

Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), composer and performer

J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano

Yoram Savion, director

Immediately after the short film is a conversation with DBR and Bridges, moderated by Jamilla Deria.

Learn more about this project and the atrocities of the Tulsa Race Massacre at theystillwanttokillus.com.

A UMS Co-Commission | Streaming Through July 31

They Still Want to Kill Us | the uncensored aria

Sozo Creative in partnership with UMS and arts institutions from across the US present the short film “They Still Want To Kill Us” to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. It speaks truth to what transpired in 1921 at the Tulsa Race Massacre, an atrocity all but deleted from history until recently. The work’s May 25, 2021 premiere marked one year since the murder of George Floyd: a commentary on our progress this last century on the issue of race and America’s treatment of Black life.

“What happened to American citizens on May 31, 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma was a massacre by white people perpetrated upon Black people. A toxic mix of misinformation, bigotry, ignorance, and white rage ignited a race war that left hundreds dead, a community destroyed, and a nation still struggling for its identity. It seems that some white people still want to kill us (Black people), and the murder of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and so many others is evidence of this bloodlust sown deep within the American psyche. What are the words and methods of The New Racism? Each day we bear witness to it. Violence against those who are Other in America is deeply rooted in our history, and we have a choice. We can be silent — or we can move mountains and create new spaces for our communities.” – DBR

Credits

Composed and Performed by
Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) @danielroumain

Mezzo-Soprano
J’Nai Bridges @jnaibmezzo

Directed and edited by
Yoram Savion @yoram.savion

Assistant Director
Anna-Sharé Blake @callmesevana

Produced by
Rika Iino @rikaiino
Ichun Yeh @tpetonyc
Jamilla Deria @umassfac

Director of Photography
Sam Wolff @samwol_f

First Assistant Camera
Olaa Olabi @olaaolabi

Production Manager
Dana Greenfield @danaagreeen

Production Assistant
Michelle Chan @miichellechaan

Makeup
Sacha Harford @sachaharford

Marketing & Publicity
Melissa Higgins @exigeante

Production
Sozo Creative @sozoartists

DBR’s new aria short film, “They Still Want To Kill Us,” is commissioned by the Apollo Theater, Opera Philadelphia, the Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage Anywhere, Joe’s Pub, Stanford Live, University Musical Society at the University of Michigan, Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Creative Alliance, Bill Bragin, and Washington Performing Arts with support from National Sawdust and the Lotus Education and Arts Foundation.

Special Thanks
Phillips Theological Seminary, ENDEAVORS Oakland, Central Park Conservancy, The Sultan Room

Locations
Oakland, CA; The Sultan Room, Brooklyn, NY; and Seneca Village, Central Park, New York, NY

Distributed by
ActiveCultures, Esty Dinur, globalFEST, ¡Globalquerque!, and HotHouse

Archival Oklahoma footage
Rev. S. S. Jones Home Movie Collection – Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Naomi Long Madgett