A difficult but necessary watch.
The statement above is just one way Ava DuVernay’s ‘When They See Us’ has been described since it was unveiled on Netflix.
In it, the visionary tells the real-life story of five African-American children (cruelly named ‘The Central Park Five‘ ) who were falsely accused of raping an affluent white women in Central Park.
Accused, without evidence or proof that the boys had even seen the violated woman.
What unravels next is a stomach-churning story of racism, corruption within law enforcement and a life-changing plot twist no one could have seen coming.
Had to turn “When They See Us” off. I got too angry. To see the true story of the way the police department failed those five kids, made me angry. To see how they played them, abused them, scared them… made me angry. They knew that these boys CLEARLY Did not know their rights.
— M.Jayy (@SincerelyMJayy) June 2, 2019
Social media’s response below…
My young black brothers… Take some time out of your weekend to watch the Netflix series “When they see us”
This is the story of the Central Park 5, young minorities wrongly convicted of rape.
Please, please, please watch, learn, and educate yourself.#WhenTheySeeUs— Tolbert Matthews (@Coach_TMatthews) June 1, 2019
I’m watching When They See Us right now and man ??♂️… Knowing your rights certainly won’t save you in all situations, in fact asserting that you know them can make some situations worse, but regardless their importance can’t be overstated
— DOM (@baileydomenick) June 1, 2019
Just binged “When they see us” and let me tell you. Our justice system is one of the worst out there. Like I knew it was messed up before this. But we seriously need to stop letting racist and corrupt people be in charge. I can’t believe how much these five men suffered.
— Sara (@sarajuarezzz) June 2, 2019
Today I started watching “When They See Us” w/ my husband & 17 yr old son who’s middle name is “Yusef” I cried myself into a migraine. I no longer saw the character instead I saw my son being dehumanized crying out for help & myself feeling helpless fighting an unjust system. OMG https://t.co/Ackk8hwld6
— Veda Ajamu (@vedaajamu) June 2, 2019
When They See Us is retelling of the Central Park Five travesty, but it is really about how white cops treat Black boys and Black men, how they lie and abuse Black boys and men because they can! And it is still happening!
— CharlesMoorer, PhD (@cdmoorer) June 2, 2019
Hey, @realDonaldTrump. I just watched “When They See Us,” about the Central Park Five, who you wanted to see executed and, even after they were exonerated, have continued to slander. You are a truly worthless human being. #CentralPark5
— Scott Willett (@SBeatle5) June 1, 2019
this is how things are unfair.
I almost couldn’t complete the watch either, they were viewed as “animals” even though there were no evidence/ DNA traced back to them. The last episode… Man, Korey I teared up and was enraged watching that particular one. Those pigs will get theirs!
This is one of the most hurtful things to watch because it truly did humanize their story. To see what Korey went through for all of those years for going to the police station with his friend… that was heartbreaking.
Wow! Err time I celebrate the internet for being an awesome source to connect awesome ppl I read comments like this that tossed that whole thought into flames. Tf is wrong with you? This happened in 89 and they’re still dealing with it today. Tf you mean? Propaganda?! But this happens today lol just because there aren’t movies to highlight it.. just yet. Oh my.. I’m wasting my time. You won’t understand. You’re probably being used by the same spirit that detective was/ is being used by.
The 90’s called and they want your example of a racist justice system back…. Using a 30 year old story to push racism on a new generation of black kids is nothing more than propaganda.
Oh…you WHITE white!
Shut up please. This new generation was FULLY aware of this racist society long before this movie was made. You must be white, because white folks are the only ones who want everyone to keep blinders on to their racist nature then get upset when we call them on it. Sit down and shut up.
LOL @ “Racist society”. You are a moron.
Omg you are such an idiot. They could have just as easily picked a case from today you LOSER.
Maybe they should have picked the Jussie Smollett case? LOL…
They couldn’t pick a case from today, because injustice like the above in the criminal justice system is not a wide-spread problem like dumb liberals would like you to believe. Caleb is a moron.
oh, you are Dumb, dumb.