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The Roommate: The Moors Collective's Rage Against Police Brutality

Cade Simmons

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Published in Jen Silverman: Three Plays: The Roommate The Moors Collective Rage: A Play In 5 Betties (Oberon Modern Playwrights)

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The Roommate, a play by The Moors Collective, is a powerful indictment of police brutality and the systemic racism that fuels it. The play follows the story of two roommates, one Black and one white, who are terrorized by a racist cop. The play's unflinching portrayal of police violence and the trauma it inflicts on its victims is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for police reform.

Jen Silverman: Three Plays: The Roommate; The Moors; Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties. (Oberon Modern Playwrights)

by Jen Silverman

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14621 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	392 pages

The Play's Story

The Roommate opens with two young women, Ebony and Dawn, moving into their new apartment. Ebony is Black, and Dawn is white. They are both excited to start their new lives together, but their excitement is quickly shattered when they are terrorized by a racist cop.

The cop, Officer Smith, is a white man who is clearly prejudiced against Black people. He stops Ebony and Dawn on the street and accuses them of loitering. When they try to explain that they are just moving into their new apartment, he refuses to believe them. He calls them names and threatens to arrest them.

Ebony and Dawn are terrified. They don't know what to do. They are both afraid that Officer Smith will hurt them. They eventually manage to get away from him, but they are shaken by the experience.

The next day, Officer Smith shows up at Ebony and Dawn's apartment. He claims that he is there to investigate a noise complaint. However, it is clear that he is just looking for an excuse to harass them. He searches their apartment without a warrant and makes racist comments to them.

Ebony and Dawn are fed up. They have had enough of Officer Smith's harassment. They decide to fight back. They file a complaint against him with the police department. However, the police department does not take their complaint seriously. They claim that Officer Smith is a good cop and that Ebony and Dawn are just making things up.

Ebony and Dawn are not giving up. They know that they are not the only ones who have been terrorized by Officer Smith. They decide to take their story to the public. They go to the media and tell their story. Their story quickly goes viral. People all over the country are outraged by Officer Smith's behavior.

The police department is finally forced to take action. They launch an investigation into Officer Smith's conduct. The investigation finds that Officer Smith has violated several department policies. He is fired from the police force.

The Play's Impact

The Roommate has been praised by critics for its unflinching portrayal of police brutality and the systemic racism that fuels it. The play has also been praised for its powerful message of hope and resistance. The play has been performed all over the world and has helped to raise awareness of the issue of police brutality.

The Roommate is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for police reform. The play's message of hope and resistance is a beacon of light in the fight against police brutality.

The Moors Collective

The Moors Collective is a theater company that is dedicated to telling stories about the experiences of marginalized people. The company was founded in 2016 by four Black women: Whitney White, Erin Markey, Paloma Nozicka, and Dawn-Lyen Gardner. The company's mission is to create theater that is relevant, challenging, and transformative.

The Moors Collective has produced a number of successful plays, including The Roommate, The Bluest Eye, and White Noise. The company's work has been praised for its powerful storytelling and its commitment to social justice.

The Roommate is a powerful indictment of police brutality and the systemic racism that fuels it. The play's unflinching portrayal of police violence and the trauma it inflicts on its victims is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for police reform. The play's message of hope and resistance is a beacon of light in the fight against police brutality.

Jen Silverman: Three Plays: The Roommate; The Moors; Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties. (Oberon Modern Playwrights)

by Jen Silverman

4.5 out of 5