The Ayes Have It
Poem by Tianna Clark
When I think of Trayvon Martin, I think of Emmett Till,
when I think of Emmett Till, I think of young black men in the South,
then I think of young, white men in the South.
I think of my husband, who is white, born and raised in Franklin, TN.
I think of how when he tries to hold my hand,
sometimes I pull away and not because I don’t love him,
but because I’m conscience, I think of other people,
other people who are born in the South,
that remember the old South and in fact long for it.
I think about the nooses that hung on our back porch when I was little:
one for me and one for my mom,
I think about how people say,
It’s not about race, don’t make it about race,
I wish Black people would stop talking about race!
When all I‘ve ever known is being defined by my race.
What are you? Where are you from?
I say, California,
but that’s not what they are looking for-
they are asking about my parents, what they want to know
is that my mother is black and my dad is white. I’m mixed.
So when I think about a post-racial America, I don’t-
because the trees in the South have strange fruit histories,
the roots are deep red, tangled and gnarled, so again-
when I think of Trayvon, I think of hoodies, then I think
of stereotypes, I think of skittles and high fructose corn syrup,
tasting the rainbow, and then I think of gay marriage,
then just marriage in general and I’m back to my husband
and he’s trying to hold my hand again, but the truth is- I’m scared,
because I have to love him differently in the South,
just like young black men have to think differently in the South,
they can’t just wink at any woman, Mr. Till,
just walk through any neighborhood, Mr. Martin.
Just wear any hoodie, buy any iced tea.
Someone is watching, always watching us, so when I think about
justice, I think about eyeballs, the first impression,
the action that follows, George Zimmerman stepping out of his car.
I think,
what would have happened if he had just given him a ride home?
Credits
Executive Producers
Todd Boss
Egg Creative
Claire McGirr
Producer
Edward Freeman
Director of Photography
Joel Honeywell
Editor
Pete Fullarton
In Association with
Stink Films
Story by
Savanah Leaf
Starring
Ayesha McMahon
Isiah Chambers
Ajani Johnson–Goffe
Olivia Bright
Harry Tibble
Connie Freeman
Skyla Wilson
Ayaana Aschkar-Stevens
Mulan Itoje
Pippa Christian
Laurence Sessou
Jason Ryall
Victoria Blauss
Voiceover
Malina Tirrell
Casting by
Savanah Leaf
Tytiah Blake
Assistant Director
Sophia Dembitzer
First Assistant Camera
Andrew Bradley
Ondrej Rybar
Second Camera Assistant
Carmen Pellón Brussosa
Steadicam Operator
Jake Whitehouse
Camera Trainee
Kairo Jones
Vivien Goddard-Stephens
Gaffer
Ben Miller
Art Department
Georgia Charter
Hair
Susy Etionsa
Make-Up
Yvette Francesca
Stylist
Sophia Dembitzer
Associate Producer
Andrew Levene (Stink Films)
Colorist
Oisin O’Driscoll (The Mill)
Producer
Dan Kreeger
Sound Design
Ben Chick
Foley Editor
Sophia Hardman
Re-Recording Mixer
Will Miller
Voiceover Recorded by
Warren Latimer
Voiceover Directed by
Alison Leaf
Music
“_____45______” by Bon Iver
Written & Preformed by Michael L Lewis, Justin Deyarmond, Edison Vernon
Courtesy of Jagjaguwar
Musical Consultant
We Are Theordore
“The Ayes Have It,” a poem by Tiana Clark. ©2012 Tiana Clark. Used by permission. This poem first appeared in Raven Chronicles.
Screenings
2018
Motionpoems NY Premiere
Motionpoems LA Premiere
V&A London “Dazed and Confused”
2019
Motionpoems Dublin Premiere
The Hammer Museum Los Angeles
2020
Kinsale Share Awards
Press
Afropunk
Boooooom
Girls in Film
Free the Bid
LLB Online
The One Club
It’s Nice That
Vimeo Staff Pick
