Black Teen Lives Matter
Monologues (Act 1) is the first episode in the Black Teen Lives Matter series, featuring stirring monologues written by Black teens who participated in our EPIC program between 2017 and 2020. To honor the weight and beauty of their words, professional actors brought these student-written pieces to life. This is not just a performance; it is a window into the raw experiences of our city’s teens.
Runtime: 22 Minutes, 5 Seconds • Release: 2021
Family Stories (Act 2) delves into the often complicated world of family, presenting four distinct, student-written plays exploring the bonds that shape us, challenge us, and ultimately define us.
This potent second act confronts profound questions. How does family become an anchor in the storm of life’s challenges? Through the voices of young playwrights, and performed by professional actors, these four short plays examine the beautiful and messy truths of our closest relationships. They bear testimony to the idea that family can be our friends, and our friends can become our family.
Runtime: 31 Minutes, 59 Seconds • Release: 2021
Taking a Stand (Act 3) features four riveting, student-written plays in which Black youth refuse to be silenced and boldly envision their own American dream.
What happens when the world tries to keep you in your place? These stories respond to that question with courage and fire. When society’s pressures mount, the heroes of these plays don’t just endure, they rewrite the rules—whether confronting the professor who dismisses their work or challenging the boss who values profit over racial justice. Performed by professional actors, these narratives capture the unwavering spirit of a generation demanding to be seen and respected on their own terms.
Runtime: 32 Minutes, 53 Seconds • Release: 2021
Enter the defining moments of a generation. Present Tense (Act 4) captures the raw, unfiltered reality of young people navigating global crises. Featuring nine powerful student-written monologues and one compelling short play, this episode emerged amidst the aftermath of Chicago’s March 2020 COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.
These works are not just scripts; they are lived testimonies. Our young writers channel the isolation of the global pandemic and the profound grief and outrage that followed the murder of George Floyd. Through their fearless words, Chicago’s Black youth demand racial justice, confront systemic adversity, and demonstrate extraordinary resilience during a time of unprecedented upheaval.
Runtime: 26 Minutes, 33 Seconds • Release: 2021
Overview
Black Teen Lives Matter is a powerful and timely four-part video series that honors the voices of Chicago’s Black youth. Curated from poignant monologues and short plays written by teen participants in our EPIC (Empathic Playwriting Intensive Course) playwriting programs between 2017 and 2021, this initiative situates their distinct experiences within a long legacy of activism and storytelling.
Since its 2020-2021 debut, the project has generated tremendous response. Schools across Chicagoland have requested to adapt the videos for classroom use, recognizing their agency to foster connection and understanding. Community partners attest that these stories allow audiences to see themselves in others, bridging the lived realities of Black teens with our city’s diverse demographics. To meet this demand, we developed a dynamic four-day curriculum designed to support teachers in facilitating these critical and often challenging conversations.
We believe that by continuing to elevate these narratives, we can inspire young people everywhere to share their own stories, knowing they will be heard, valued, and respected.
Screening History
- November 11, 2020 | Silk Road Rising, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
- November 14, 2020 | Silk Road Rising, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
- February 27, 2021 | Silk Road Rising, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
- March 1, 2021 | Silk Road Rising, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
- April 24, 2021 | Silk Road Rising, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
- April 26, 2021 | Silk Road Rising, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
- July 28, 2021 | Silk Road Rising, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
- July 31, 2021 | Silk Road Rising, hosted online, Chicago, Illinois
- March 23, 2022 | Sabin Dual Language Magnet School, Chicago, Illinois
- May 10, 2022 | Charles R. Henderson Elementary School, Chicago, Illinois
- May 20, 2022 | Benjamin E. Mays Elementary School, Chicago, Illinois
- May 24, 2022 | A. Philip Randolph Elementary School, Chicago, Illinois
- September 26, 2022 | Art in Motion, Chicago, Illinois
- October 3, 5, & 6, 2022 | Ludwig Van Beethoven Elementary School, Chicago, Illinois
- December 5, 2022 | Deneen School of Excellence, Chicago, Illinois
- January 26, 2023 | Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois
- January 31, 2023 | Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois
- February 6, 2023 | Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois
- February 14, 2023 | Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois
- February 14, 15, & 16, 2023 | Arthur Dixon Elementary School, Chicago, Illinois
- March 3, 10, & 24, 2023 | Johnnie Colemon Elementary School, Chicago, Illinois
Creative Team
Written by
- Jamil Khoury
Directed by
- A. George Bajalia
Executive Producers
- Malik Gillani
- Jamil Khoury
Director of Photography
- Drew Pientka
Editor, Script Supervisor and Assistant Director
- Deann Baker
Set Design
- Dan Stratton
Costume Designer and Props Master
- Kelsey C. Melvin
Original Compositions
- Peter J. Storms
Production Manager
- Corey Pond
Dramaturg
- Neal Ryan Shaw
Location Sound Mixer
- Dustin Barta
Post-Production Sound
- Nate Green
Assistant Camera and Grip
- Travis Legge
Gaffer
- Nicki Beck
Make Up and Hair
- Neva Stroud
Script Development Support provided by
- Madrid St. Angelo
- A. George Bajalia
- Gordon Chow
- Nora Fiffer
- Malik Gillani
- Virginia Lee Marie Martinez
- Neal Ryan Shaw
Cast
- Gordon Chow as MULTICULTURALISM
- Virginia Lee Marie Martinez as POLYCULTURALISM
Essays & Commentary
Special Thanks
- About Face Theatre
- Eric Branholm
- The Field Foundation of Illinois
- The First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple
- Elizabeth Gingerich
- Hannoun Rugs from Morocco
- Elise Hausken
- Becky Klein
- Jeanette Kleymeyer
- Claire Melvin
- Allison Schuette
- The Siragusa Family Foundation
- Writers Theatre
- Valparaiso University, Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014 Planning Committee
- Elizabeth Wuerffel
- Roger Wykes