DREWCELLA OYA MAE DAVIS is a playwright from Minneapolis MN who uses the rhythms derived from hoods and ghettoes, and Santeria traditions to inspire her plays. She considers herself a blackist, a term coined by her, it is someone who focuses on the disparities that come with being black in America.
Thanks to Drewcella Oya Mae Davis for allowing NYCPlaywrights to publish this excerpt from her play THE CURFEW.
(The stage opens to the apartment building of Amaze, AARon, Afina, and Anaya.
Anaya is sitting on the couch she is staring out the window she stands up to reveals her stomach which is full of new life she holds her stomach and begins to pace back and forth than jumps on the couch and starts to look out the window again.
Enter Afina the older sister of Anaya she is carrying two cups of tea she sets one on the table than makes her way to her sister.
Anaya Jumps up to start pacing again almost hitting Afina. Afina jumps and spills some of her tea.)
ANAYA
I am so sorry
(Afina shakes her head)
AFINA
Don’t worry about it.
ANAYA
I just don’t get it [BREATH] I don’t get them
AFINA
They will be back love [BREATH] Don’t worry
(Afina kisses Anaya on the head she helps her sit down)
ANAYA
They got five minuets until the curfew Afina
(Anaya grabs her tea from the table takes a sip and sets it down .)
ANAYA
Black men have been killed for less[BREATH] Since they made him president
AFINA
Whose they?
(Anaya looks at Afina confused)
ANAYA
The white man [BREATH] White women too they are the ones who voted for him.
[BREATH] I don’t understand [BREATH] I mean white men yes but white women why would they vote for a man who says he wants to grab women by their-
AFINA
Please don’t say that word.
(Anaya takes a breath.)
ANAYA
Sorry[BREATH] Rape has basically become legal since he became president[BREATH] But what do you expect to happen when you make a man who has been accused of rape a president
AFINA
Anaya
ANAYA
I mean most boys want to be like their president so
AFINA
Anaya I don’t wanna talk about him right now[BREATH] Can’t we just talk about something else
ANAYA
What else is there to talk about[BREATH] Society has gone to shit since he was elected it’s all around us [BREATH] Men raping women[BREATH] Black people getting murdered
(Anaya shakes her head she looks to her sister)
ANAYA
I don’t know what I was thinking wanting to bring a baby into this world[BREATH] Two black babies whose skin will be as dark as their fathers
AFINA
Hey don’t say that[BREATH] we will get through this and your not alone
ANAYA
If A-ron don’t make it home by the curfew than I’ll be a single mother raising two boys all on my own
(Afina holds Anaya’s hand Anaya looks to her sister)
AFINA
They are both gonna get here in time [BREATH] I’d be afraid if they were alone but together[BREATH] Amanze with his quick thinking and A-ron with his quick hands
ANAYA
I just don’t understand this whole thing anyway [BREATH] Like who would declare a war on protesting it was peaceful
AFINA
Guess old Trump got angry when he saw that black people didn’t respect him
ANAYA
Black people weren’t the only ones who were protesting him becoming president [BREATH] Yet we were the only ones who had to suffer for it
AFINA
At least he didn’t ship us off to working camps like he did to the immigrants[BREATH] I rather be shot dead in the street than have to go to one of those camps
ANAYA
Yeah I hear you [BREATH]
(In her Trump voice)
If you are gonna come into America you are gonna work like an American
(Afina stares at Anaya)
AFINA
So has A-ron asked you
ANAYA
Asked me what
(Afina looks at Anaya and smiles Anaya rolls her eyes)
ANAYA
Not everyone wants that
AFINA
You telling me you don’t think about getting married
(Anaya blushes)
ANAYA
Sometimes but I don’t know if it’s A-ron’s thing [BREATH] Or my thing
AFINA
It wasn’t Amaze’s thing either but it happened
ANAYA
Amaze and AA-Ron are two different people
AFINA
Who come from the same people