‘When They See Us’
Not everyone is in a position to protest or donate, but there are still ways to stay engaged with the Black Lives Matter movement that was reignited by the killing of George Floyd. One very easy way? Educate yourself on the painful history of racism in the U.S. justice system by watching When They See Us on Netflix. This four-part miniseries from director Ava DuVernay chronicles the true story of five teenagers—four black and one Latino—who had their lives ripped away in 1989 for simply existing as black and Latino men in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s a tough watch, to say the least. DuVernay forces you to watch with eyes wide open as the too-young teens known as the Central Park Five are falsely accused, manipulated into confession, and imprisoned for up to 13 years. When They See Us will break your heart, but hopefully it will light a fire there, too. Hold onto that anger. You need it now more than ever.