Netflix
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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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Disney, Netflix React to Georgia’s Anti-Abortion Ban
As the country’s top producer of pecans, peanuts, and trap music, the state of Georgia is a bit of a paradox—case in point, it’s the birthplace of both the civil rights movement and the televised antics of Stevie J. and Karlie Redd. But beyond its affable veneer, the state is also now home to a…
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The 10 Biggest Cultural Thefts in Black History
Netflix’s new documentary, The Lion’s Share, chronicles the history of the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” how it became a worldwide hit and—most importantly—how media companies including Disney, kept the song’s original creator, South African musician Solomon Linda, from receiving any of the profits. While discussing the film, someone on The Root’s staff pondered if—considering…
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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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‘I Love You Black Man. I Love You Black Woman’: Meet the Real-Life Best Friends of Netflix’s See You Yesterday
Netflix’s See You Yesterday isn’t your average sci-fi flick. Black nerds fighting police brutality, creating time travel and exposing viewers to Caribbean-American culture combine to show another side of the science-fiction genre. Directed by Stefon Bristol and produced by Spike Lee, See You Yesterday is led by a duo who have been friends since birth…
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When They See Us: You Will Not Only See the Central Park Five; You'll Hear, Feel, and Want to Fight for Them
Central Park Five. It’s a name that has been bestowed upon Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Jr., and Korey Wise. Five men—then teenagers—who tragically embodied the turn of phrase, “wrong place at the wrong time,” were essentially immortalized into infamy as soon as they were dubbed as such. But, what about when we…