Yhane Washington Smith
Portfolio
- Scripting
- Writing
About Yhane Washington
Hi! I am a filmmaker, writer, producer, folklorist, film festival founder, Columbia University Community Scholar and ten time Lower Manhattan Cultural Council grant recipient. In 2019, I independently produced and launched Harlem Queen. I've also made the limited series titled 1972 - The Chisholm Campaign Trail and the Davis Trial . Finally, I made a western because I never liked westerns, titled The Courtship of Mona Mae.
I grew up in New Jersey, in the heart of the Pine Barrens, just outside of Atlantic City. When I was a teenager, I collected the stories of the women in my small hometown and I use many of those profiles to create characters.
My first job was picking blueberries in one of Jersey’s finest blueberry fields. I am no stranger to hard work.
In the 1990s B.C. - (Before Children) I worked as a PA, AP, PM, PC, AD on films, TV shows and commercials. I worked with directors such as Spike Lee and Joe Pytka.
I just recently learned that I am the great-great granddaughter of a Civil War Veteran who was a freeman in 1850. That’s one of the reasons why I keep my maiden name - Washington.
Yhane Washington's Portfolio
In Harlem Queen, our Black Royalty of the Harlem Renaissance clashes against the seedy underworld of mobsters.
Upon the 50 year anniversary of the historical events of these two famous Black women (Chisholm's campaign for the presidency of the U.S. and Davis's Trial for conspiracy to murder); comes "1972" by highly acclaimed, independent audio drama creator, Yhane Washington Smith. "1972" is a seven-part historical audio drama series detailing the powerful story of these two amazing Black women in U.S. history. The show portrays the true story of Black women empowerment; of two African American women who refused to be ignored and silenced by a society too comfortable with the status quo. Our goal is for you to be entertained, educated, empowered, uplifted and love the amazing stories of Black women in U.S. history!
In the 1870s, pioneers Mona Mae Christophe and Zekial Montgomery search the American West for Mona Mae's mother, Clara. Mona must recall a past, long forgotten in order to survive, so that she can find her mother, love and create a way of life for herself. Mona's journey shows how knowing our stories and histories release us from not only bondage, but also open doors for a better understanding of self in order to create a strong life and future. Our goal is for you to be entertained, educated, empowered and uplifted after hearing this amazing story!