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The 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre is being acknowledged in the short film They Still Want to Kill Us. This short opera film features mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and was composed by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR).
The premiere takes place on May 25th at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT through various arts institutions include Opera Philadelphia, Stanford Live and more. There is no charge to watch the film.
That They Still Want to Kill Us debuts on May 25th is no accident. That is the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd.
The Tulsa Massacre took place after Dick Rowland, a young Black man, was in an elevator with Sarah Page, a white woman. What happened in that elevator became the subject of inflated rumors and conjecture. It lead to a riot between white and black mobs on the 31st of May and continued through June 1st.
During that time the Greenwood district of Tulsa was looted and burned to the ground. As many as 300 people may have died in this tragedy with over 800 injured. What was once a thriving neighborhood for Black businesses and residences – an area often referred to as Black Wall Street – was left in ruins.
Filmmaker Yoram Savion directed the film. In addition to screening They Still Want to Kill Us, there will be a discussion with DBR and Bridges that is moderated by Jamilla Deria, director of the Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
J’Nai Bridges has performed with the Metropolitan Opera in their 2019-2020 season production of Philip Glass’ Akhnaten (which will stream again on June 6th). She has an upcoming Signature Recital for Los Angeles Opera that starts streaming on June 4th.
In addition to being a composer DBR is also an acclaimed violinist who has worked with Glass, Lady Gaga and more.
Filmmaker Savion has collaborated on with multiple dancers and musicians. Amongst his recent projects are Dear Black Girls and Ride Out to Vote.
You can sign up to view the video with either of the two performing arts organizations listed previously. The film will be available for free viewing on YouTube through July 31st.