Project Statement:
‘The Rebels Are In The Streets’ is a short spoken word poetry piece with layered ambient music, voice over and original piano music. This piece is inspired by the Women’s Marches that took place around the world on January 21st, 2017 – following President Trump’s inauguration the day prior. I wanted to dedicate this work to modern day, feminist rebels who attended the marches and peacefully protested for women’s rights. By directly quoting two of President Trump’s disgusting and misogynistic remarks without censor, “Grab her by the p****” and “I moved on her like a b****,” I believe I have effectively shown the audience what the rebels cause for protest is: an anti-women president. The ambient music behind my poetry adds to the powerful and dramatic tone of the piece, while the soft piano adds to the sombre and impassioned storytelling and spacing. I believe the music makes you an empathetic listener to the story. It’s quite emotional to hear, which is what the marches were. The girls you hear cheering at the start, then singing at the end – were 26 women at the Washington D.C march who performed a singing flash mob of ‘I Can’t Keep Quiet,’ by MILCK – a song that speaks to domestic violence. It’s important that the audience can hear the real voices and emotion from the choir in the song as it brings us closer to the march itself and adds to the atmospheric setting of the piece.
The Poem:
The rebels are marching down the street
Face paint dripping
Mud to the knees
Storming in their pursuit
For justice
For equality
For freedom
To be seen under law
The rebels are hungry
Gnawing and gnashing their terrible teeth
Pink pussy hats
And 1000 reasons to scream
“Grab her by the pussy”
“I moved on her like a bitch”
He’s excited to be indicted
A new president of no compassion
No experience
The women and men are marching
Feminist and furious
Signs of the times
Held high above their heads
Simmering and unapologetic
Little ones wrapped around shoulders
Chanting for equal treatment
To govern the bodies they will grow into
Parenting at its finest
The rebels are linked arm in arm
Sweeping D.C, New York city to Sydney
The popular vote that keeps fighting
When 2017 is the year
That women’s rights means rebellion
The rebels are singing in the streets
Drowning out the hate with love
With lesson
With learning
Naming their reality
And demanding change for their daughters daughters
Peaceful protests of
Millions of rebels
All fighting for the same thing
Visibility
Equality
Respect of women
LGBTQ
Women rights as human rights
Women as human beings
The rebels are marching in the streets
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