When They See Us

The Netflix mini-series “When They See Us” chronicles the true story of the Central Park Five, a group of young Black and Latino boys who were falsely accused and convicted of a brutal rape in New York City in 1989. The five, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise, were coerced into giving false confessions and were ultimately sentenced to years in prison for a crime they did not commit.

The series, directed by Ava DuVernay, has become a cultural phenomenon and has struck a chord with audiences around the world. Through its portrayal of the experiences of the Central Park Five, the show shines a light on the systemic racism and injustice that continues to plague the American criminal justice system today.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the Central Park Five case is the way in which these young boys were treated by law enforcement and the media. The police and prosecutors in the case were desperate to solve the high-profile crime, and they quickly fixated on the Central Park Five as potential suspects. Despite a lack of physical evidence linking them to the crime, the boys were interrogated for hours without their parents or legal representation, and they were promised leniency if they confessed.

These false confessions were then used as evidence against the boys in court, even though the confessions were coerced and inconsistent with the facts of the crime. The media coverage of the case was also highly sensationalized and biased, with newspapers and television shows portraying the boys as “wilding” criminals who were out of control.

The series highlights the devastating impact that the criminal justice system can have on innocent people, particularly people of color. The Central Park Five were wrongfully imprisoned for years, even though there was no evidence proving their guilt, and they were subjected to abuse and violence in prison. The psychological trauma that they endured has had lasting effects on their lives, even after they were exonerated years later.

The case of the Central Park Five is not an isolated incident. Systemic racism and bias continue to permeate the criminal justice system today. Studies have shown that Black people are more likely to be stopped, searched, and arrested by law enforcement, and they receive harsher sentences than their White counterparts for the same crimes. The war on drugs and the over-policing of low-income communities of color have resulted in the mass incarceration of millions of people, many of whom are innocent or have committed nonviolent offenses.

“When They See Us” is an important reminder of the need for change in the criminal justice system. The show exposes the injustices that many people of color face every day, and it calls on us to examine our own biases and to demand accountability from those in power.

As viewers of the series, we can take action in several ways. We can support criminal justice reform and advocate for policies that address the underlying causes of crime, such as poverty and lack of education. We can also support organizations that work to provide legal assistance to those who have been wrongfully accused or incarcerated. And we can engage in dialogue with our friends, family, and community members about issues of racial bias and how we can work together to create a more just and equitable society.

In conclusion, “When They See Us” is a powerful and necessary work of art that raises critical questions about the American criminal justice system. Through its portrayal of the Central Park Five case, the series sheds light on the injustices that many people of color face when they come into contact with law enforcement. We can honor the bravery of the Central Park Five and work towards a more just society by taking action to challenge systemic racism and bias in all its forms.