WHEN THEY SEE US Is Must-See TV!
- The story of the Central Park 5 is now on Netflix.
If you haven’t already, RUN — do not walk — to see the Netflix docudrama WHEN THEY SEE US.
Racism
WHEN THEY SEE US is the true story of the Central Park Five — a group of 5 African-American and Puerto Rican boys, aged 14-16, who were railroaded by police and prosecutors into confessing guilt for raping a white female jogger in 1989 in New York City’s Central Park. The boys were innocent, yet police bent to racial profiling (including a full-page New York Times ad from Donald Trump calling for the boys to get the death penalty) and pressured them into video confessions, which led to 5 successful convictions.
Yusef Salaam, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, Jr., and Korey Wise were each sentenced to between 5-15 years in prison. The eldest teen, 16-year-old Korey Wise, was tried as an adult and sent to New York’s infamous Riker’s Island prison where he was forced to fight off adult criminals and lifers.
The 4-part Netflix series, which was directed by Academy Award-nominee Ann Duvernay, was incredibly well done and the performances are beyond perfection. However, be forewarned: it’s a definite tear-jerker. Some African-American fathers with teenaged sons have already said they couldn’t make it through Episode 1, which is a testament to the power of the piece. Still, this is a MUST SEE for all members of the family, particularly African-American families.
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I tried to watch “When They See Us.” I couldn’t even get past the trailer. As scenes from director Ava DuVernay’s new Netflix miniseries about the Central Park Five flashed across my screen, I felt sick. Maybe it was the all-too-familiar images of young black men in police custody and on trial. Maybe it was the parade of weeping mothers and anguished fathers. Or maybe it was my own memories of negative encounters with the police.
– Doug Criss, a black father.
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Here is a sneak-peek of the official trailer.
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Yes. I first heard about *WHEN THEY SEE US* a few days ago. The whole sorry saga has certainly triggered a lot discussion.
Honestly, just based on what I’ve read, and heard, thus far, I don’t know if I can sit and watch any of it(?) Just too painful….smh. Hurt. Anger. Rage. I know I’d feel all those gut-wrenching emotions because I’m feeling them already. And watching it actually play out would only intensify those feelings X 10.
Still. It’s a story that must be told. Thank you DJ for sharing it.
TGIF!