Written By: Maida Odom
Directed By: Ontaria Kim Wilson
Former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Maida Odom spent roughly 20 harrowing hours embedded directly across the street from 6221 Osage Avenue — the police target during the 1985 MOVE confrontation.
She reported through fear as thousands of bullets were fired and gallons of water rained down, all in an effort to force MOVE members from their home. Hours after she left, a bomb was dropped by police, killing 11 people — including 5 children. The ensuing fire destroyed 61 homes and left 250 people homeless.
Profoundly disturbed by what she witnessed, Maida turned to art to process her trauma.
Her play, “Move Mocks Us All,” is a searing exploration of that tragedy and its aftermath.
Talkback to follow hosted by Linn Washington Jr., producer and host of the new podcast “MOVE: Untangling the Tragedy,” with playwright Maida Odom and Ontaria Kim Wilson.
