We Must Say Her Name

We Must Say Her Name engages with the current rise of white nationalism and its historical continuities. According to the Equal Justice Initiative, more than 4,400 African Americans were hanged, burned alive, shot, drowned, and beaten to death by white mobs between 1877 and 1950. Although often forgotten, close to 200 of these victims were women. Inspired by the work of anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells and the current Say Her Name Movement, this piece is a memorial honoring the lives of black women who have been lynched and continue to be murdered by our criminal justice system.

Click to view a video of the performance. Stills by Tania del Carmen Fernández.

Choreography —
Alicia Díaz in collaboration with the performers.

Music —
“Strange Fruit” (instrumental version of Nina Simone’s rendition), composed by Abel Meeropol, alias Lewis Allan; “Blood on the Leaves (Instrumental)” composed by Kanye West with sampling of Nina Simone’s rendition of “Strange Fruit.”

Text —
Excerpts of “The Negro Mother” by Langston Hughes and “America's Uncrowned Queens: Dedicated to the Heroic, Toiling Black Woman” by Drusilla Dunjee Houston. Additional text based on research of lynching conducted by Alicia Díaz, India Henderson, and Patricia Herrera.

Costume Design —
Johann Stegmeir

Light Design —
Maja E. White

Scenic Design —
Josafath Reynoso

Dramaturgy —
Patricia Herrera

Performers —
India Henderson, Ramsey Goodner, Kayla Schiltz, Gabriela Telepman.

Photography —
Tania del Carmen Fernández