Ava DuVernay
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5 Black Men React to Netflix's When They See Us, Ava DuVernay's Series About the Central Park Five
On May 31, Netflix released the Ava DuVernay-helmed miniseries, When They See Us, which delves into the case of the Central Park Five, the five black and brown boys who were convicted in 1990 in both the media and the courtroom for a crime they didn’t commit. In 2002, they were exonerated after the actual…
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The Brotherhood: Raymond Santana Creates a T-Shirt to Commemorate the Central Park Five
If, like me, you spent a good part of your weekend tearfully watching Ava DuVernay’s masterful When They See Us on Netflix, you likely walked away wanting to ensure the world never forgets what was done to Yusef Salaam, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Korey Wise and Raymond Santana. The five boys—then aged 14 to 16…
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Raymond Santana Supports Boycott of Central Park Five Prosecutor Linda Fairstein: 'She Has to Pay for Her Crime'
With the release of the brilliant Netflix miniseries When They See Us comes renewed interest in the trial surrounding the Central Park Five and its standing as one of the most heinous miscarriages of justice in the history of the state of New York. In exploring how five innocent black teenagers—whose only crimes were naiveté—were…
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When Are Black Boys Allowed to be Boys? The Cast of When They See Us Says There's Still Work to Do
I’m asking myself what do I look like? Do I look like a criminal? — Jharrel Jerome text What do you see when you look at black boys? Perhaps you see a brother, a son or a nephew. Conversely, you might see a deep thinker, a creative, a leader or even our future. But for…
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When They See Us Is the Haunting Masterpiece the Central Park Five Deserve
After watching Netflix’s upcoming miniseries When They See Us ahead of its release, here are five observations. 1. While the tragic tale of the Central Park Five is at least vaguely familiar to most, this miniseries does an exceptional job of exploring the myriad of ways in which Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Antron McCray, Yusef…
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Ava DuVernay on When They See Us and How the Press Failed the Central Park Five
There are few things more difficult to watch than the abuse, mistreatment and manipulation of innocent young black and brown people. In her four-part Netflix series, When They See Us, award-winning director Ava DuVernay takes us into the story of the Central Park Five—a case that had the media in a frenzy in the late…
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From Boys to Men: New When They See Us Trailer Highlights the Heartbreaking Yet Hopeful Journey of the Central Park Five
Time is priceless. Time is something that was stolen from Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana Jr., and Korey Wise in 1990, when they were convicted and sentenced to several years in prison for a crime none of the teenage boys committed. There was no physical evidence tying any of them to the…
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A Survivor’s Story: Refusing to Be Defined by Victimhood, Aurora Perrineau Emerges Strong in When They See Us
For those who know the name Aurora Perrineau, it’s typically in relation to the charges she filed against Girls writer and executive producer Murray Miller in late 2017, alleging he’d sexually assaulted her when she was 17, a minor. The allegations made national headlines when Lena Dunham and then-production partner Jenni Konner gave an unsolicited…
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Go for the Glow: Alicia Keys Covers Essence's June Issue—and More Famous Faces Get Some Shine!
June is Black Music Month, so it’s fitting that 15-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys is covering Essence’s June issue (with Lizzo starring on the digital version)—though it’s actually themed “The Escape Issue.” In keeping with the theme, Keys, who has famously already broken free of entertainment industry expectations by taking a cleaner approach to beauty,…
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First Look: The Bordelons Will Be Swept in Secrets of ‘Blessing and Blood’ in New Queen Sugar Season 4 Trailer
‘B’ doesn’t just stand for Bordelon anymore, it also stands for blessing … and blood. Coming from an early awards season success having been named Best Television Show Drama from the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and as well as scooping a nomination for Best Drama Series at the NAACP Image Awards, Queen Sugar…