America Acirema
Advance Praise
“American Acirema is a brilliant collection of plays by Cesi Davidson that examines life in twenty-first-century America. The preface to the collection references the ritualized celebration of the Thanksgiving feast with its adult and child tables as well as table scraps caught by rodents as a powerful allegory for life in America. Each of the twelve plays examines how the complexity of human relations is still undergird and permeated by these exclusionary practices that appear ritualized, almost natural. However, each play is also a story belonging to a particular place, an insight into our evolving hope and our evolving despair.”
Rosario Swanson, PhD, Professor of Latin American Literature and Gender Studies at Emerson College
“America Acirema by Cesi Davidson is most definitely a wake-up call. It is not for the faint of heart or thin-skinned. It is a keen observation, intelligent, and, at times, witty probe on the complexities of America’s dark history of colonialism, slavery, and race relations. Dr. Davidson turns the tables on us to make us see the grave injustices of the systemic racism, sexism, and homophobia that permeate our culture. The plays are short, spirited stories presented in ingenious theatrical ways. They inspire critical thinking as well as playful interaction that form new perspectives on old problems. The rebirthing of America has always been forward then backward then forward again and backward again, hence the title. A hearty congratulations to Cesi Davidson on more brilliant and illuminating works!”
Whitney Hamilton Director, Writer, Actor, Visual Artist Producer Bjornquist Films-UNION
“In this collection of new short plays, Cesi Davidson unveils a powerful political dimension to her ever-expanding art. Her earlier work was fanciful, wildly imaginative, and often hilarious. All those qualities can still be found in America Acirema, but Davidson has bigger things on her mind now as she tackles head-on the problems at the root of a sick society—racism, sexism, class. Though always entertaining, these plays are also deeply disturbing and at times painful. Audiences and readers will squirm with discomfort as Davidson reveals in subtle and not-so-subtle ways the cruelty and ignorance of a society built on a foundation of racism. Davidson is angry, but she is far from hopeless. As her characters learn, the path to resolution of our difficult and complicated problems begins with brutal honesty and ends with understanding and love.”
Zachary Sklar, Oscar-nominated screenwriter (JFK, with Oliver Stone) Author—The Work: A Jigsaw Memoir
“Cesi Davidson’s quiet personal strength emerges in characters she writes that demand, ‘Listen to me.’ These short plays are long on fearlessness, and thoughtful surprises. They have large and luminous themes that are digestible enough for reflection. What Cesi Davidson gives us in America Acirema is a chance to observe some of the complexity of our unresolved communication. Nothing changes unless something changes including limited and stubborn perspectives. We need playwrights who are able move us emotionally with crafted entertaining stories while reminding us of our responsibilities to each other. I praise this sista who is helping to lead the way.” Camille Yarbrough Award-winning Producer, Singer, Dancer, Actress, Poet, and Activist Author—Cornrows
Advance Praise
“American Acirema is a brilliant collection of plays by Cesi Davidson that examines life in twenty-first-century America. The preface to the collection references the ritualized celebration of the Thanksgiving feast with its adult and child tables as well as table scraps caught by rodents as a powerful allegory for life in America. Each of the twelve plays examines how the complexity of human relations is still undergird and permeated by these exclusionary practices that appear ritualized, almost natural. However, each play is also a story belonging to a particular place, an insight into our evolving hope and our evolving despair.”
Rosario Swanson, PhD, Professor of Latin American Literature and Gender Studies at Emerson College
“America Acirema by Cesi Davidson is most definitely a wake-up call. It is not for the faint of heart or thin-skinned. It is a keen observation, intelligent, and, at times, witty probe on the complexities of America’s dark history of colonialism, slavery, and race relations. Dr. Davidson turns the tables on us to make us see the grave injustices of the systemic racism, sexism, and homophobia that permeate our culture. The plays are short, spirited stories presented in ingenious theatrical ways. They inspire critical thinking as well as playful interaction that form new perspectives on old problems. The rebirthing of America has always been forward then backward then forward again and backward again, hence the title. A hearty congratulations to Cesi Davidson on more brilliant and illuminating works!”
Whitney Hamilton Director, Writer, Actor, Visual Artist Producer Bjornquist Films-UNION
“In this collection of new short plays, Cesi Davidson unveils a powerful political dimension to her ever-expanding art. Her earlier work was fanciful, wildly imaginative, and often hilarious. All those qualities can still be found in America Acirema, but Davidson has bigger things on her mind now as she tackles head-on the problems at the root of a sick society—racism, sexism, class. Though always entertaining, these plays are also deeply disturbing and at times painful. Audiences and readers will squirm with discomfort as Davidson reveals in subtle and not-so-subtle ways the cruelty and ignorance of a society built on a foundation of racism. Davidson is angry, but she is far from hopeless. As her characters learn, the path to resolution of our difficult and complicated problems begins with brutal honesty and ends with understanding and love.”
Zachary Sklar, Oscar-nominated screenwriter (JFK, with Oliver Stone) Author—The Work: A Jigsaw Memoir
“Cesi Davidson’s quiet personal strength emerges in characters she writes that demand, ‘Listen to me.’ These short plays are long on fearlessness, and thoughtful surprises. They have large and luminous themes that are digestible enough for reflection. What Cesi Davidson gives us in America Acirema is a chance to observe some of the complexity of our unresolved communication. Nothing changes unless something changes including limited and stubborn perspectives. We need playwrights who are able move us emotionally with crafted entertaining stories while reminding us of our responsibilities to each other. I praise this sista who is helping to lead the way.” Camille Yarbrough Award-winning Producer, Singer, Dancer, Actress, Poet, and Activist Author—Cornrows
Advance Praise
“American Acirema is a brilliant collection of plays by Cesi Davidson that examines life in twenty-first-century America. The preface to the collection references the ritualized celebration of the Thanksgiving feast with its adult and child tables as well as table scraps caught by rodents as a powerful allegory for life in America. Each of the twelve plays examines how the complexity of human relations is still undergird and permeated by these exclusionary practices that appear ritualized, almost natural. However, each play is also a story belonging to a particular place, an insight into our evolving hope and our evolving despair.”
Rosario Swanson, PhD, Professor of Latin American Literature and Gender Studies at Emerson College
“America Acirema by Cesi Davidson is most definitely a wake-up call. It is not for the faint of heart or thin-skinned. It is a keen observation, intelligent, and, at times, witty probe on the complexities of America’s dark history of colonialism, slavery, and race relations. Dr. Davidson turns the tables on us to make us see the grave injustices of the systemic racism, sexism, and homophobia that permeate our culture. The plays are short, spirited stories presented in ingenious theatrical ways. They inspire critical thinking as well as playful interaction that form new perspectives on old problems. The rebirthing of America has always been forward then backward then forward again and backward again, hence the title. A hearty congratulations to Cesi Davidson on more brilliant and illuminating works!”
Whitney Hamilton Director, Writer, Actor, Visual Artist Producer Bjornquist Films-UNION
“In this collection of new short plays, Cesi Davidson unveils a powerful political dimension to her ever-expanding art. Her earlier work was fanciful, wildly imaginative, and often hilarious. All those qualities can still be found in America Acirema, but Davidson has bigger things on her mind now as she tackles head-on the problems at the root of a sick society—racism, sexism, class. Though always entertaining, these plays are also deeply disturbing and at times painful. Audiences and readers will squirm with discomfort as Davidson reveals in subtle and not-so-subtle ways the cruelty and ignorance of a society built on a foundation of racism. Davidson is angry, but she is far from hopeless. As her characters learn, the path to resolution of our difficult and complicated problems begins with brutal honesty and ends with understanding and love.”
Zachary Sklar, Oscar-nominated screenwriter (JFK, with Oliver Stone) Author—The Work: A Jigsaw Memoir
“Cesi Davidson’s quiet personal strength emerges in characters she writes that demand, ‘Listen to me.’ These short plays are long on fearlessness, and thoughtful surprises. They have large and luminous themes that are digestible enough for reflection. What Cesi Davidson gives us in America Acirema is a chance to observe some of the complexity of our unresolved communication. Nothing changes unless something changes including limited and stubborn perspectives. We need playwrights who are able move us emotionally with crafted entertaining stories while reminding us of our responsibilities to each other. I praise this sista who is helping to lead the way.” Camille Yarbrough Award-winning Producer, Singer, Dancer, Actress, Poet, and Activist Author—Cornrows
Click Link to Purchase Digital version: