For Troy Davis or Black Men Like Brownie Bites For The American Justice System

©ricardogamboa2011


Stage is black.

MEG is in a spotlight near the clock. Taped against the wall, above her, is a placard reading “American Justice System” and holds a tub of brownie bites. She bites into a brownie bite and then throws it on the floor. She repeats this task.

The spinny doors are open, revealing CECIL in a chair, back to audience. He is illuminated by a cliplight, hopefully creating a silhouette. The spinny door(s) slowly open and close repeatedly revealing and disappearing CECIL.

MARTA stands on the landing at a podium. There is a desk-light on it and she reads from a paper at the podium.

troy davis: was executed on september21 
was declared dead at 11:08pm
is old news already

this country: integrated schools in 1954 
passed the civil rights act in 1965
keeps one-third of its black men in prisons today

look at meg and those brownie bites

troy davis: was caught with a gun before
“was a stand-up fellow,” said the neighbors
said he didn’t do it

this country: didn’t care that there was no murder weapon,
norfinger prints,
nor that the eyewitnesses recanted their testimonies

look at meg and those brownie bites

we said: it wasn’t fair,
there was reasonable doubt,
don’t kill troy davis

he said: he didn’t do it
he dropped out of school to drive his sister to rehabilitation
he had a million americans and president carter on his side

but they: did what they always do
and didn’t listen
to us

they: did what they’ve been doing
did what they always do
to them
those just like troy davis

look at meg
and that brownie bite
let’s say that one is troy davis

MARTA shuts off the desk-light. The spinny doors are still and open. MEG looks at CECIL and eats the brownie bite. Light fade on MEG.

troy davis: was executed on september 21 
was declared dead at 11:08pm
is old news already

The spinny doors close. Black for five seconds.

Curtain.

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