@@804smiles I thought he was trying to get Kory to have his mom bring in drugs. Like he was tryna get him to traffic.. You're right though. I see now he was a just a perv.
Hi. @9:05 in an interview #Birdman says he *still* regrets NOT trademarking #bling... @9:55 we've been heard "Woke", but soon as we heard the lovely Ms. #ErykahBadu sing "I stay Woke..." 'it' took off! We think that *she's* the 1 that started the word "Energy" being used in the proliferated way it's used today. @11:39 I believe they knOW! With the WAY [they] obsessively STUDY Black Culture?? [their] Fascination of *Melanated Beings* is Warped! @12:45 Any full-grown Adults that PREY on children for anything! is iCKY! Let alone ones that are suppose to honor the sane law! Their parents and lawyer were supposed to be PRESeNT while they were being questioned! @16:16 There's show on [this], one is called #Vindicated. the TVOne channel aired it, I believed. There's another special where the guy goes from state-to-state where there's modern-day lynchings STILL taking place! We seen a doc on the vikings where he guy said "We didn't have the psychological evolution back then to 'know' that *that* was wrong." Dear god, centuries later! Do [they] STILL lack the psychological evolution today?? @20:20 when #Forensics is handled *honestly* it's accurate. We gotta weigh *the sane quotient* of [those technicians] in the lab that's administering the tests. @22:00 Wowzer! I missed [that part], which ep was that? Did she just say "It's no longer about justice; it's about politics. And politics is about survival..." Huh? [What] do white Ppl think/feel [they] got to Survive From?? [They're] not being treated like *Black People!"* @27:22 Ever since Neicy Nash seemed to 'help' [them] harass the late #GaryColeman that time...we haven't been able to get in to her. Maybe we'll give her acting prowess another glance, I meant, chance. @30:00 he damn sure was, that *dark-chocolate man!* And yes! The adult-actor that played Raymond Santana... Yummy!
My father taught me: Police aren't looking for justice, they're looking for an arrest; you'll do. The prosecutor isn't looking for justice, he's looking for a conviction; you'll do.
@@1DegreeAboveFreezing there's still room to dislike Trump. He has been at this kind of stuff for a long time. From being sued for discrimination with his apartments to pulling Black employees off the floor in his casinos when certain high rollers come through, to the racist candidates he has endorse, to the racist people he has hired to his White House administration. The fights he has started with "unpatriotic" Black NFL players, Haiti, Africa and El Salvador being "shithole," countries. It's about Trump right now and what he did to these young boys. He shouldn't get off the hook by deflecting to the other side.
Yes, YES!! You are the ONLY person that talks about Kori's sister. The most painful moment is when his mom and sister are fighting to get her out of the house. The fact Marcie tells Kori she loves him and he loves her. And the scene when he finds out that his sister was murdered and he broke down and cried from his inner core. It was the realization he's truly alone. Broke me.
The entire Korey story destroyed me. I just wanted to hug him and love him. I’m tearing up just writing this. It was difficult to watch even harder to process.
Episode 4 was the hardest Korey broke my heart. Even his scene in the courtroom in episode 3 was heartbreaking they used his weaknesses against him. I was angry for him. I was angry for all of them but Korey hit me the hardest.
Linda Fairstein and Elizabeth Lederer needs to go to prison. I think the legal system should go after both of them like they did Bill Cosby. For example losing all their jobs and going on trail.
As a 49 year old black man ,I have never felt so uncomfortable watching a movie.Ive watched movies on slavery,the lynchings down south in the 60s ,the Rodney King situation and so on and so on.This miniseries effected me because that could have been me or friends that I grew up with.As,a father ,it was gut wrenching. Glad Netflix shinned a light on this injustice to these young men .May the Lord bless them and there familes
Christine Herrera same. I couldn’t get him off my mind for dayssss. I was devastated with him, sad with him, angry with him, lonely with him. I just felt with him all the way through.
I know someone who knows him (social service providers). She feels the same way. He’s definitely disabled and even now, people continue to exploit and take advantage of him.
I am bout do something petty like, make fun of her style, I know it's Petty but it seems to be the only thing that will happen because she is getting off so light
One thing that struck me is the absurd idea that these five boys who are wearing perfectly clean clothes with a few grass stains were somehow responsible for an attack that left the victim's clothing completely soaked in blood and mud. The fact that Linda Fairstein and Elizabeth Lederer could look at those kids in their pristine clothing and think they just somehow avoided all of the victim's blood and the mud from the scene is beyond denial. They KNEW their case was complete fiction. Linda Fairstein obviously just wanted a quick resolution to a crime that is notoriously hard to solve. Her 'reputation' was on the line. So whoever got caught up in the sweep was who she was going to build her case around. Despicable. And Jharrel Jerome needs to win all the awards.
Get this...I watched an interview with Yusef and Raymond, in this they said that at some point they took 2 of the boys back to the crime scene. Told one of them that his shoe was untied. As he bent over to tie, one of the detectives tried to nudge him with his knee to try to push him over to get him to fall in order to transfer evidence to his clothes. OMG!!! Just evil!
@@lakendracollier5099 I agree, no other word except evil can describe such behavior. You don't try to frame someone because you think they're guilty, you frame someone because you know they're not. Despicable.
It’s a wonder that Korey even survived. I am so proud of him really. My heart breaks for him. His experience haunts me and I can’t seem to get him out of my mind. And some many young male black children are placed in these survival of the fittest prisons! Hell holes really. I would encourage everyone to watch the 60 minutes “False Confessions” to truly understand how police are able to get these “confessions”.
Every black parent should sit down with their teenage/adolescent children and watch this series. Talk to them, inform themand educate, because even though this happend 30 years ago, injustice towards black people is still very real.
Idk if adolescents should view the documentary...maybe read something or watch an interview...this context won't work well with their immaturity. They still learning you know.
@ you're completely right. When i was typing i had young children in mind. Like the elementary/junior high aged youth. But you are correct. I guess it depends on the person/youth.
@@TheNoirAlien I didn't watch this to be entertained. I hear about the story and I could believe this could be true. But after this I got a reality check! Even though we think/hope we are making progress, we are very far from where we want to be. every time we take a few steps forwards we seem to going in reverse.
my heart pours out to Korey Wise irl. He’s such a blessed soul. You can tell he’s still living through his youth with the way he dresses now. He didn’t have his opportunity to live as a teenager or even has a young adult. God bless him.
Just think if Reyes never confessed...... These men were still wronged. Yusefs mother made me upset when Koreys mom tried to reach out to have their sons communicate. Yusef was the reason Korey was there! Appreciate the story from Avas vision. As hard as it was to watch, imagine going through it.
Unfortunately, what Antron's father went through is what COUNTLESS numbers of enslaved black mothers endured for fear of what would happen to their sons if they didn't comply with master's ways. Nothing's changed but the number of years.
This is why I haven't watched it yet... ETA after hearing this commentaey on it I'm gonna just have to watch it. I also cannot believe Candace Owen, Litterally no hope for that girl whatsoever.
I prepared myself mentally for the fourth episode since I had read that one was the hardest one to view... Well so much for preparation, I cried my eyes out, it was terrible I can't keep Korey Wise out of my head, I hope he is in a good place now and he's amongst people who truly love and care about him
I think more than being angry/ok with Raymond selling drugs it’s showing that he had no other option. As a society we force people who are ex-cons/felons to re-commit crimes(or in Raymond and may others case-commit their first) as their sole survival option. We don’t provide them with a way to get a stable job or housing. I think Ava said at some point “we have to fear recently incarcerated people bc we know we’re no rehabilitating anyone.”(paraphrased).
I'm not a religious person but Korey's story sounds like one of those biblical epics they show during the hoildays! He got involved solely to support his friend, ends up getting the worst punishment, a satanic beast tries to have him killed but fails. For over a decade he's tortured without mercy, during which time he crosses paths with the actual guilty party. Then years later he crosses path with guilty party *again* and the guy remembers him, but this time the guy is "saved" and finally confesses with proof to free Korey! Then Korey comes home to find that the satanic beast is now the ruler of the land!!! This is some Ben Hur type action!!! Korey sounds like a genuine "Saint", bless his soul! Perhaps the meek will inherit the earth!
I don’t think I’m going to watch this series, mentally I just don’t think it’s for me right now, but I’m glad that it’s doing so well and so many people are streaming it
@@allsoladarity It is awful. I paused and googled the Linda lady, who has resigned from her positions due to the backlash from this documentary. She needed to. 6 rapes occurred on that day, the women and these 5 boy's. Rape is a harsh word but these young men was striped of their lives and innocence. I am on the last episode Korey was just raped in prison because he was tried as an adult
Take your time! Sometimes just enjoying the technical work and performances helped me get thru it, like distancing myself mentally from the story for a little bit and just taking in the cinematography. It's heartbreaking but it also promotes a healthy emotional release.
Who you telling sis? When i learned more about Kharey (Korey) it really drove the series home. I didn't even watch the in movie interviews at first. My first viewing experience i watched the REAL interviews and i was in tears. My least favorite part was Kharey's experiences IN jail. That shit broke me down. Seeing him in recent interviews, his trauma is apparent. I was angry the whole time. Those boys were failed by a system who didn't give a fuck in the first place.
Yes I feel like we all thought that’s what he was referring to, but then you see things like korey giving him candy and it’s confusing bc you’re like is this why he’s torturing this boy? For some candy?? Perhaps outta respect she just didn’t wanna go all the way there....
As black People, we are expected to be super human , to forgive immediately, well, we are simple human beings, how can we not feel hate when these racist bastards show us over and over again how evil they truly are, for the past 400 years, they haven’t changed.
Candace is bought and paid for. Just like Brandon Tatum. Just like Diamond and Silk. Just like Denene Boreli. Just like Crystal Wright. Just like Jesse Lee Peterson.
@Emma XTC And the worst part is, Korey initially got involved with all this unfair mess because he wanted his homie, Yusef, the other selfish lady's son, to know he got a friend who'll always have his back. She couldn't even have it in mind and struggle for him as well. She messed up here, knowing Korey had it worse than the others (although, this last point was totally out of her control).
Joel Kotto Agreed! I think she was a heartless bitch honestly. There is no way any of my childhood friend’s Mothers would have let me sit there. One of my friends got arrested and her Mother didn’t have the money to bail her out. One of our other friend’s Moms did, and my Mom and another Mom was right behind her with the money, but we had gotten her out by then, thank God. So I know Yosef’s Mother could have done WAY more for Korey.
My son was adjudicated as an adult and sentenced to 7 years in a level 4 state prison when he was 15 years old. He was paid by two adults to beat someone up for them because the kid had been caught breaking into cars in their neighborhood. The prosecutor admitted to his lawyer (a public defender) that he was being made an example of because he was running for re-election on a platform of being tough on youth violence. His sentence was part of a plea deal with the adults involved, and all had to take it or go on trial. I wanted to go to trial. His lawyer had him sign the agreement behind our back. From that day on, he was considered a legal adult, and I was not even allowed to be present for any questioning, to obtain information, or to have any say in anything. For the first year he was in prison, he was kept in solitary confinement "for his own safety". When he was finally about to be released, the manager of the apartment complex we lived in called me into her office. She said she heard that I had a son who was being released from prison, and she wanted to inform me that if he was seen on the property at all, I would be evicted. She understood the circumstances, but wouldn't make any exceptions. That left him with no place to go when he was released but with his father, the worst person he could have lived with at that time. I couldn't afford to move or to lose my home, I had three other children who were still minors at the time. He is now 33 years old, and has been on "indefinite probation" since age 22. He is still unable to find legitimate work because he was adjudicated as a "violent felon", something we fought when he was being charged. He has been back to prison twice since his release because he tested positive for marijuana which was a probation violation. I'm not making any excuses for his part in what happened, but he was a child. The system sucks. When you're released, you've supposedly paid your debt to society, but you still can't get a break,
Oh my Gosh, I absolutely love your commentary. I’m preparing to go to Law School now and I’m aiming to be a prosecutor just because of this. I can’t finish watching it so i appreciate your commentary about this.
angel telp sorrentino it literally took me all day to watch the first episode. Like I could only watch it in 8 minute increments then I had to take hours to do something else..
Best of luck, Aishia!!! Please practice self-care because you’re going to need it. Our justice system is a corrupt beast of a system. There is a LOT of pressure to plead people out: it’s heartbreaking.
It was so hard to watch him be in solitary confinement. To see a person lose their mental stability as he did in solitary was the hardest thing ever. The whole series is frustrating to watch. But that part was the hardest thing to watch. I don't think anyone could ever forget it.
I hope Ava DuVernay makes a film about Kalief Browder... his story is just as heartbreaking. She did so well with this story, and although I was familiar with the case I was very emotional watching her series.
Genia Brown I think the show maker was clear yet silent about the sexual assaults. It has happened it effected Korey we should know without seeing the gruesome details like 13 reasons why
This was great work but I’m starting to get concerned about the PTSD our community has after watching these movies. What do we do with our emotions and pain after we turn it off?
Simply Aziza I agree! I think it’s best to have control over emotions and learn how to transmute that energy into solving the problem or making more of our people aware.
I hear you. Talk about it, find community, make space, take action - these are some ways people around me have been working through the pain of watching these men's traumas played out and grappling with the reality that we still have an incredibly unjust, racist, classist and violent penal/justice system.
The guard was foreshadowing when he said"let me know what you can do for me". The guard on rikers orchestrated his initial beating and oversaw Cory's recovery in the scene with the nurse. The guard was basically covertly threatening him.
I feel you and totally understand why you’re finding it hard to watch this beautiful but hard hitting series. But please watch it to honour the experiences of these men and the hard work Ava, Oprah and their teams put into bringing these facts to us. By watching this you may pick up some facts that can save a person who is in a similar situation’s life.
@@princesscutielu no need to watch. Every Black person should already know how this system of justice behaves. To spread trauma is worst than the injustice.
@@ebonythomas9675 I was born and raised in Boston....very racist. Now I live In NYC where it is still a problem. Personally.....I see way too much in daily life and have grown up in these times of the internet. With Tons of reading. Unfortunately the faces and names change but the tragedy is the same. I can't watch....shows like this....or more movies of us with slavery. I don't need it. The ones who are causing the problems need to be made to watch it and be traumatized by it.
What had me mad is that black inmates would do this to a lil boy instead of protecting him till justice comes one way or another when you know he’s innocent regardless of being convicted jail dudes know how the system works to black men and boys wanna know how they feel after they found out he was innocent
This series was so well done. I really love everything Ava does. She puts so much care into character development and all of the components, such as the cinematography and honest dialogue, just really work so well. She wanted to capture their humanity and she did that. Also, Jharrel Jerome’s performance was absolutely breathtaking. It was honest, raw, heartbreaking, just everything. He needs all the awards. Those moments where that prison guard was saying to Korey “let me know if there’s something you can do for me” had me confused too. But eventually we see him give the guard some of his snacks he bought with his commissary. I think that was to highlight how corrupt the entire prison establishment is. Even the guards let their limited power get to their heads. Some of them exploit the prisoners, taking advantage of them during the worst circumstances of their lives. There was a bit of balance shown with the other prison guard who took to Korey as a fatherly figure, but the corruption is definitely there too. Another thing that I got from those moments where they evil guard was making those propositions to Korey was the innocence that he and the other 4 boys had but was stripped from them during the entire ordeal. They were literally innocent kids. And that moment where I was confused as hell about what the fuck that guard wanted, I was reminded of that. Like...wow. I have certainly never experienced anything as traumatic as the Central Park Five, but I do have a few moments I sometimes think about when I was a little kid where an adult did or said something that chipped away at my innocence. And once it’s gone, it’s gone. And you don’t get to be an innocent kid anymore. At least not in some respects. It’s heartbreaking when I think about it. And it was even more heartbreaking watching the Central Park five enduring it.
Courtney T I’m with you. I felt confused and disgusted. That guard knew damn well that boy didn’t have any idea what he was talking about. Or what was about to happen to him.
@TruMusic89 I hated that she didnt have more compassion for Korey when he so desperately needed it. But I also understood her point too. Yusef was getting ready to get out and she didnt want anything to potentially ruin that. Even if it was to help Korey. To me it showed just what each mother was willing to do to help their kid.
TruMusic89 yea I wished that there was a bit more compassion from Yusef’s mom. Especially considering the circumstances. But it was a really fucked up situation on all sides and it seemed she tried to protect her son as best she could. It may have been easier for her to distance her and Yusef to cope with everything. 😔
Ava spoke on the Korey Wise portion of the story saying that it was far more worse than what we got to see in screen but she didn’t want to get too graphic to allow more demographics to watch which I’m so glad she did, even thoughts know the realities of prison but I still told my daughter as we watched “Baby if the rape him I can’t take it and I’m turning it off”🤦🏾♀️ Just to think that these boys were stripped of justice, childhood, freedom, innocence and even their manhood ! It’s just all to close to home with what’s continuing to happen today with Kalif Browder situation and many others smh #KnowYourRights #EducateAndProtectYourChildren
Antwon father did what any man in his position with his background would do or any immigrant or just any person who doesn't have knowledge of the system and fears jail would do to be honest you thinking we just cooperate we can go home not knowing they are setting you up
I think the prison guard who kept asking Korey to let him know if there was anything that Korey could do for him was attempting to negotiate “protecting” Korey in exchange for sexual favors from him. Gurl. When adult Raymond showed up on the screen... Good. Gawd. It was so good. (I said something different that I won’t repeat here because it is not at all appropriate.) Be still my heart 😉
Tommy Forte i didn’t really get attached bc I knew better. And was korey tripping when he saw him again at the other jail? That later exchange was so weird.
@@tommyforte7157 So did the white prison guard really exist or was he added to try to tone down the darkness of the show? I didn't see him as a "savior" per say, but more as the only character in the prison that had any empathy.
Skylar Blue dont be stupid. So they also had to makenthe light skinned guy the one with his shirt off in shower as a sex symbol as well?! U sound young. Raymond didn't and don't look like that. That's called tv programming. They wanted to program black women with sexual lust and in this case a light skinned man. They could have made that Kevin or Antron but purposely chose to let that be the lighter skin person. Same way with the white CO officer. That shyt ain't necessarily true
This series has highlighted the way Black folk are traumatized multidimensionally. Just watching material such as this will create massive trauma. I choose to Read on the Central Park 5. No more dramatized images of Black Hell for me. Not enough Joy for us to drown ourselves in such pain!
I'm 16 years old and african but I was born here in Europe and when this show came out I didn't really know if I wanted to watch it. I actually don't really like movies or shows that talk about racism against blacks because it just makes me sick and makes me cry. The sad thing here is that stuff like in WTSU still happens today in the US ( and other countries but mostly the US ) and when I see things like that on the news I just cry. I even have family in the US and I always think "What if this happens to.....". We really live in a sick world today
"Adult raymond? ADULT RAYMOOOND?" THAT WAS ME THE WHOLE TIME LIKE DAMN!!! ***WARNING: MENTIONS OF DRUGS, VIOLENCE, & FORCED SEXUAL ACTS*** Also, when the guard says, "let me know if there's anything you can do for me", it's possible he could either be referring to drugs, money, or sexual favors. In the show, you can see that Korey secretly gives the guards food and sweets, but I don't think that's what they mean in real life...I mean, why would these corrupt guards do favors for these criminals just for some Twix candy? I've seen interviews from ex COs of Riker's Island that have said they used to make a lot of money by selling drugs and weapons to inmates. They would also use inmates to discipline each other (they would call it, "The Program" in Riker's). Using this "survival of the fittest" method seemed to work in the guards' favor because it was usually one or two guards monitoring 30-50 inmates at a time. The whole sexual undertone can also be assumed because it's not anything new that inmates become either prey or predators of forced sexual encounters, and I don't think it starts and end with just the prisoners, but with the CO's as well. Anything goes in those kinds of places and Rikers happens to have an extremely bad reputation. So I think what Korey had to do was to benefit these guards in either a financial, sexual, or disciplinary way. Obviously, this is just a theory and none of us could know for sure, but regardless, it makes me really sad and mad to think about.
As a cop and a black man please, please, PLEASE, when you are Mirandized, always ask for your lawyer no matter what. Do not try and circumvent anything, try to follow directions as best as you can and always show your hands and keep your answers to yes and no. It sucks but its what you have to do.
MrVlogerGuy I agree to what you said but I go even further when it comes to the Miranda right: don’t speak at all. It starts off stating you have the right to remain quiet. That’s what a person should do until a representative (parent or attorney) appears - stay quiet.
@@regisnyder This is also true, I just don't want anyone to recklessly do anything that can set anyone off. Like I said as both a cop and a black man that is my best advice to black folks. It is a truth that for the moment we have to endure until it can be changed for the better.
@@myermayhem2520 That def is not true, I serve with men and women that truly want to protect and serve. But there are outliers when it comes to police brutality which I don't deny but to say that we all engage in such destructive behavior is not fair.
@@MrVlogerGuy Gaslighting. How can you "truly protect and serve" in a broken institution? A institution that offers you a level immunity and all cops are in on it? People follow all the rules and still die. You know this!
I would like to reiterate how important it is for Black folk specifically to avoid the overconsumption of trauma inducing media. I thought I was able to face Black Trauma head on and realized We do not have the systems in place to allow ourselves to absorb such hellish media without suffering mightily!
Once again, you’ve nailed it. Not like you need my validation, I just had to share how much I loved this analysis. Thanks for your work and spreading the knowledge!!
I honestly feel like the guard was referring to sex but of course to protect and respect the actual Korey wise the “Let me know if there’s something you can do for me” was watered down to giving him his commissary. 🤷🏾♀️
Your review deserves an award right alongside of this Netflix miniseries. 😊 I am now watching "Time," the story of Kalief Browder, which is really good and then I think I am moving on to "13th." Not sure if mentally I will be able to take all this, but I think it's important to know.
Frankly, I'm trying to experience When They See Us through osmosis because of how hard a watch it is. I tried to watch this a few days ago and everything in me told me to back up and see something else.
I have put this series on chill. I have watched so many reactions to it that I know I am not mentally in a position to watch it. Just hearing about the case gets my rage so worked up and I am not even American. So I know that right now I cannot watch it. There are certain films I have not watched because I know that I cannot handle them yet. I get too emotionally involved and it becomes such a burden on the soul.
Adult Raymond! Ok, I'm done. I couldn't watch this without my son being in the house. I couldn't handle it emotionally without knowing my son was ok. He's 13. It was hard for me to separate him from those boys.
Girl...his muscles in that tight tee shirt!!!👏🏾 lol No but really. My brother (he's 22) watched it the same night I did and we had to have a talk. It scares me to think this could happen to him. Best we can do is stay involved and educated. Know your rights. The cops are not your friends
Adult Raymond! Oh sis I know! This movie triggered the crap out of me! I actually had to leave my house! My trauma from military and ptsd was strong geez! So I had to skip some parts. Geez! Kore, oh my goodness this killed me!!!!!!!! When the. Guard said what can you do for me it seemed sexual! Idk!
@B dub it was harrowing. Very hard to watch. I knew what was going down back in the day while it was actually happening and it upset me then. The dramatization of it with the Netflix special reopened old wounds, so to speak...
I literally cried my eyes out when Korey found out his sister died, and throughout the whole series I felt so hopeless... And it's was wild to find out that Linda Fairstein was inspiration behind Law and Order: SVU... Like Fairstein and Mariska Hargitay (Benson) are real life friends
Brilliant and visceral analysis! I know I WILL watch it soon, but I can't get myself to do so right now. I am so fed up with this side of American society. I've gone through so many emotions that I'm just tired.
I watched this because I felt like it was a lesson. We need to know our history to watch out for our present. The first episode made me physically ill, but I got through it. I truly appreciate your commentary.
Excellent critique. The points you can be repurposed as critical components for: 1. 'the conversations' we need to have in our families, communities, and our churches 2. pertinent book reading lists for family, community, and church book club enlightenment discussions 2. 'the checklist' for the 'the talk' we give our children 3. strategies for platform issues to challenge and demand from candidates in return for our 2020 vote. Thank you for your powerful insights.
This was a brilliant TV program, but I'll be damned if it wasn't deeply upsetting. Brilliant acting throughout, brilliant production, brilliant everything.
My coworker asked me that very question, how did the case move forward when the mounting lack of evidence was so obvious. It baffles me but I answered him by saying that's because people, more specifically conservatives, hate being wrong 🤷🏾♀
It was sexual. It was implied but you see him give him candy. Which was weird because I would think the guard would have just bought his own candy... @forharriet
I am just curious if Kory reached out to the Guard that had his back. In the movie Kory told him hes going to pay him back I wonder did he and do they keep in touch. Even in your darkest day God sends some kind of sunshine. God Bless these Men. Thanks for the recap.
15 mins in and I had to stop. Days later someone said it was based on a real story, my heart near fell out of me. My heart goes to all Black/African Americans having to endure this for the past 400 years😢😢😢 Love from a Nigerian living in the UK.
It is hard to watch. I was crying and had to pause. But it's important that we watch this series. It made me realize how important it is that we know what our legal rights are.Also, these boys lived this nightmare. We honor and recognize their plight by doing so. Lastly, we need to get Ava her views.
Ava did an amazing job telling their story but it being soooo real and hit too close to home that it’s a one & done for me. I watched it once and can’t do it again. I had to prepare myself mentally, emotionally and spiritually to watch that movie. I had times I broke down and had to come back a few days to watch more and it took a week or two to finish it because it was a movie that did it’s job and held a mirror to the face of everyone who watched!! This movie made my husband and I have that TALK with our boys that we’ve spoke on but not to the extent of what we had after watching the movie. Seeing young boys that look like your own children go through this HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE scared me to my core!!!
I'm so glad you mentioned Marci Wise! Almost all of the reviews covered by black contributors have not mentioned or barely mentioned Marci. Korey Wise's love for his sister was so important to his story!
YESSS!!! WTSU IT’S SOOO HEAVY!!!! I couldn’t stop feeling disgusted and heartbroken, I literally had to stop it a couple times, as I felt too emotionally drained, but even so, I can’t recommend it enough, it is a MUST WATCH. You definitely gotta be in the right set of mind though, be READY both emotionally and mentally before delving into it. 💔💔
Something about Trisha Meili's memory loss but wanting to clear police and prosecutors of wrong doing feels contradictory and suspect to me. She was a victim of something horrible but so were these boys. Why not stand with them.
yaedat yen 💴💴 white women will put the good of white supremacy before their own needs. framing 5 black boys was more of a win then getting 1 black man that was the perpetrator.
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I felt the same way! Is it wrong of me that I feel something towards her, even knowing she is a victim?
Karen Aguilar I don’t think it’s wrong. she doesn’t feel wrong being an accomplice. She said those 5 boys are not innocents and that she knew their was a 6th boy involved.
I still cannot watch it. I’m so emotionally connected to these stories that I am a mess after watching these stories. I myself was quite young when this happened. I vaguely remember hearing of it in passing. Even hearing you speak of this was emotionally draining. Maybe one day I will have the strength to watch it. I am glad for works like this to shine a light on the injustice and to put actual truth out there. These stories help to shape the way we move forward and the fact is that the system NEEDS to change. It needs to be dismantled and completely overhauled.
I haven't watched it yet. I want to with my 9yrs old son. I'm going to break down, I know it!! Guess I'll watch & break down B4 I watch with my son 👌🏾 I was also Very Interested and Excited to hear your thoughts. This case was and is Disgusting, Outrageous, Disrespectful & Unfortunately STILL RELEVANT!!! SMDH 🤧😭🙏🏾✊🏾💞💯
I agree with you 100% I was so mad while watching this story. BUT I PROMISE YOU I could not stop watching either!! It was painful to watch but also so well done!! Such an excellent way to tell this story and really show what happened. I know these men are all grown but I just want to hug all of them am say sorry to them.
I am one of those who hasn't watched the series yet. I first heard of this crime in April this year. I am a Kenyan and this story never reached my country as I am sure I would have remembered it as a teen. I was visiting Toronto and a documentary about these boys was being shown in my hotel room. I was getting ready for a sales meeting with 40 attendees so it was going to be a very long day. I had to sit down and watch the whole documentary because I could not believe what I was hearing. I broke down and had to wash my face and do my make up all over again for my meeting. I do not have the heart to watch the series right now but I wanted to listen to your review. This is a scar for America and the nation should be affected by the atrocities that were done to these boys and million other minority Americans because the privileged feel the need to be superior than others. I pray for America and wish the nation well. There has been too much in the history for America to be called the land of the free. It is anything but that for any American....privileged or not.
@For Harriet When you talked about the ignorance or victim badge white women do to excuse their lack of being “woke” reminds me of the Kentuckian woman who killed a giraffe was playing the ignorant role during a CBS Morning Show interview about her actions and the backlash. 🤦🏾♀️
Same with the woman that harassed and called the police on that black man entering his OWN apartment. She followed him all the way up to his flat, watched him turn the key and walk in and STILL called the police! 🤦♀️ Then pleaded she just didn't know he lived there, but yet after she found out she still called 911 🤔
First off, this review is amazing and so we'll planned out. Secondly, I cried my eyes out like crazy starting around forty minutes into the first episode and it never stopped. Thirdly, my boyfriend and I despite having friends who are lawyer and "good" police officers had our apartment searched three times by LAPD without any good reasoning. The third time it happened I wasnt home and they cuffed my boyfriend while they searched through our place. When he called me after they left, we knew we had to take action because if that kept happening we didn't see how the situations would be able yo keep ending peacefully. All three searches were within a week. The last two were within five hours of each other. My boyfriend is a tall brother (6'6) who's really more of a gentle giant, but no policeman coming to the door is gonna think that.
I dropped some links for people who want to know more about our corrupt criminal justice system over on Patreon. Patreon.com/ForHarriet
The guard was talking about sex! He was raping him and having sex 4 jobs in the jail! And taking their commissary! Nasty a#& jus trifling!!!!
@@804smiles I thought he was trying to get Kory to have his mom bring in drugs. Like he was tryna get him to traffic..
You're right though.
I see now he was a just a perv.
What was the bell hooks book you mentioned?
Hi. @9:05 in an interview #Birdman says he *still* regrets NOT trademarking #bling... @9:55 we've been heard "Woke", but soon as we heard the lovely Ms. #ErykahBadu sing "I stay Woke..." 'it' took off! We think that *she's* the 1 that started the word "Energy" being used in the proliferated way it's used today.
@11:39 I believe they knOW! With the WAY [they] obsessively STUDY Black Culture?? [their] Fascination of *Melanated Beings* is Warped!
@12:45 Any full-grown Adults that PREY on children for anything! is iCKY! Let alone ones that are suppose to honor the sane law!
Their parents and lawyer were supposed to be PRESeNT while they were being questioned!
@16:16 There's show on [this], one is called #Vindicated. the TVOne channel aired it, I believed. There's another special where the guy goes from state-to-state where there's modern-day lynchings STILL taking place!
We seen a doc on the vikings where he guy said "We didn't have the psychological evolution back then to 'know' that *that* was wrong."
Dear god, centuries later! Do [they] STILL lack the psychological evolution today??
@20:20 when #Forensics is handled *honestly* it's accurate. We gotta weigh *the sane quotient* of [those technicians] in the lab that's administering the tests.
@22:00 Wowzer! I missed [that part], which ep was that? Did she just say "It's no longer about justice; it's about politics. And politics is about survival..." Huh?
[What] do white Ppl think/feel [they] got to Survive From?? [They're] not being treated like *Black People!"*
@27:22 Ever since Neicy Nash seemed to 'help' [them] harass the late #GaryColeman that time...we haven't been able to get in to her. Maybe we'll give her acting prowess another glance, I meant, chance.
@30:00 he damn sure was, that *dark-chocolate man!* And yes! The adult-actor that played Raymond Santana... Yummy!
You may find Sweden's correctional/rehabilitative system interesting.
My father taught me: Police aren't looking for justice, they're looking for an arrest; you'll do. The prosecutor isn't looking for justice, he's looking for a conviction; you'll do.
Yup.
Say that
true
Now I want y'all to look at what he wrote! LOOK!! this is the exact opposite of what a few white kids I knew were taught growing up. 100% opposite.
Your Father is one wise man
"If you know a black man who voted for Donald Trump, please tell him he is a clown." SAY IT AGAIN FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK.
@@angleeceiasorrentino hate Trump don't hate the brothers and sisters. Educate them
Talk to Kanye West...I hope he has watched this series...sellout
Hate Trump? The other choice called these young men super predators and increased the enslavement of our brothers. Let's not forget.
@@1DegreeAboveFreezing there's still room to dislike Trump. He has been at this kind of stuff for a long time. From being sued for discrimination with his apartments to pulling Black employees off the floor in his casinos when certain high rollers come through, to the racist candidates he has endorse, to the racist people he has hired to his White House administration. The fights he has started with "unpatriotic" Black NFL players, Haiti, Africa and El Salvador being "shithole," countries. It's about Trump right now and what he did to these young boys. He shouldn't get off the hook by deflecting to the other side.
@@1DegreeAboveFreezing Trump, Clintons, Joe Biden, throw them all away.
"A-DULT! RAYMOOOND!" 😂😂😂 had the SAME reaction. I was like "😍ooh😯wait😐no...😍but😬focus! 😐Serious subject...😏Google later."
Okay!! If you know you know 😩😂😍😍
@@crichy 😉 lolol!
Yeah I had that same reaction. He was a good "break" from my anger and tears.
@@scrabblemistres Right. He was a welcomed distraction when he came down the block.
The Little Blerdmaid yes, girl. ( Fanning myself from the flashback). Lol
Yes, YES!! You are the ONLY person that talks about Kori's sister. The most painful moment is when his mom and sister are fighting to get her out of the house. The fact Marcie tells Kori she loves him and he loves her. And the scene when he finds out that his sister was murdered and he broke down and cried from his inner core. It was the realization he's truly alone. Broke me.
The entire Korey story destroyed me. I just wanted to hug him and love him. I’m tearing up just writing this. It was difficult to watch even harder to process.
My sister said the same thing.
Future Widow Same. The actor who played him, was incredible. That whole episode fucked me up.
Jharrel Jerome did an astounding job portraying him. He deserves all the awards.
Episode 4 was the hardest Korey broke my heart. Even his scene in the courtroom in episode 3 was heartbreaking they used his weaknesses against him. I was angry for him. I was angry for all of them but Korey hit me the hardest.
Linda Fairstein and Elizabeth Lederer needs to go to prison. I think the legal system should go after both of them like they did Bill Cosby. For example losing all their jobs and going on trail.
Elaine Anderson 👏🏽
Elaine Anderson letters to Columbia School of Law should start to flow. Simply stating.....What about her ...why is she still there.?
@@nataliebarnwell7583 We may not be able to get the judge and the police but those women need to go to prison.
Elaine Anderson facts
Sooooo...this is why we wanted YOU to weigh in. Hands down, one of the most thorough reviews I've seen. Thank you for this.
Really though
You said it
Ava DuVernay did an amazing job. The series was tough to watch, but necessary.
As a 49 year old black man ,I have never felt so uncomfortable watching a movie.Ive watched movies on slavery,the lynchings down south in the 60s ,the Rodney King situation and so on and so on.This miniseries effected me because that could have been me or friends that I grew up with.As,a father ,it was gut wrenching. Glad Netflix shinned a light on this injustice to these young men .May the Lord bless them and there familes
The kid that played Korey should get a nom
Korey Wise's story broke my heart. I am shaking with rage over what happened to them and their families.
Korey Wise... I just want to find him irl and just hug him and hold him tight. His story ripped my heart into pieces.
Christine Herrera same. I couldn’t get him off my mind for dayssss. I was devastated with him, sad with him, angry with him, lonely with him. I just felt with him all the way through.
His story made me have to leave the house. I was so broken
Christine Herrera Me too.😢💔
As a grown man I teared up
I know someone who knows him (social service providers). She feels the same way. He’s definitely disabled and even now, people continue to exploit and take advantage of him.
I still can't stop thinking about Korey. He crosses my mind every day.
Everyday. He's a beacon of light. An angel sent from heaven
Mememe TRUUEE
Every day😞
Yes and I pray for his strength everyday. I hope I could meet him one day and give him a huge hug.
Lashay Davis me too!!
You guys the other prosecutor Elizabeth Lederer teaches at Columbia Law she needs to be fired
I am bout do something petty like, make fun of her style, I know it's Petty but it seems to be the only thing that will happen because she is getting off so light
@@jessicavictoriacarrillo7254 #PeppermintPetty
@@jessicavictoriacarrillo7254 oh no this gives me horrible flashbacks to the 80s people mocking my "style" ughghghghhhhh
Yeah she does
Generic TM she is resigned
Adult Raymond was a snack 👀🌚
SKSKS I thought I was the only one who thought this but I didn’t want to say it bc it’s a serious topic
I felt the same wayyyy. I felt so bad lusting after him. When it’s supposed to be a serious topic
Period
Somebody said it lol
Absolutely
One thing that struck me is the absurd idea that these five boys who are wearing perfectly clean clothes with a few grass stains were somehow responsible for an attack that left the victim's clothing completely soaked in blood and mud. The fact that Linda Fairstein and Elizabeth Lederer could look at those kids in their pristine clothing and think they just somehow avoided all of the victim's blood and the mud from the scene is beyond denial. They KNEW their case was complete fiction. Linda Fairstein obviously just wanted a quick resolution to a crime that is notoriously hard to solve. Her 'reputation' was on the line. So whoever got caught up in the sweep was who she was going to build her case around. Despicable.
And Jharrel Jerome needs to win all the awards.
Being Black and nearby was their only “crime” smh 🤦🏾♀️
Very good point.
Get this...I watched an interview with Yusef and Raymond, in this they said that at some point they took 2 of the boys back to the crime scene. Told one of them that his shoe was untied. As he bent over to tie, one of the detectives tried to nudge him with his knee to try to push him over to get him to fall in order to transfer evidence to his clothes. OMG!!! Just evil!
@@lakendracollier5099 I agree, no other word except evil can describe such behavior. You don't try to frame someone because you think they're guilty, you frame someone because you know they're not. Despicable.
LaKendra Collier disgusting devils.
ADULTTTT RAYYYMONNNDDD
instagram.com/freddymiyares/ Go check him out! Haha
Was fine! Im so glad Ava gave us some eye candy lol. Definitely provided some levity in such a heavy subject
Girl he was fine!
Briana Oliver i thought black girls didn't like light skinned dude?
Girl he was fine!
It’s a wonder that Korey even survived. I am so proud of him really. My heart breaks for him. His experience haunts me and I can’t seem to get him out of my mind. And some many young male black children are placed in these survival of the fittest prisons! Hell holes really.
I would encourage everyone to watch the 60 minutes “False Confessions” to truly understand how police are able to get these “confessions”.
Every black parent should sit down with their teenage/adolescent children and watch this series. Talk to them, inform themand educate, because even though this happend 30 years ago, injustice towards black people is still very real.
Idk if adolescents should view the documentary...maybe read something or watch an interview...this context won't work well with their immaturity. They still learning you know.
Anyone 14+ should watch the series. As a white person, this series helped me see the truth more clearly. The message it sends is powerful.
@ you're completely right. When i was typing i had young children in mind. Like the elementary/junior high aged youth. But you are correct. I guess it depends on the person/youth.
That's why i wont be watching, this is not entertaining to me.
@@TheNoirAlien I didn't watch this to be entertained. I hear about the story and I could believe this could be true. But after this I got a reality check! Even though we think/hope we are making progress, we are very far from where we want to be. every time we take a few steps forwards we seem to going in reverse.
my heart pours out to Korey Wise irl. He’s such a blessed soul. You can tell he’s still living through his youth with the way he dresses now. He didn’t have his opportunity to live as a teenager or even has a young adult. God bless him.
Just think if Reyes never confessed...... These men were still wronged. Yusefs mother made me upset when Koreys mom tried to reach out to have their sons communicate. Yusef was the reason Korey was there! Appreciate the story from Avas vision. As hard as it was to watch, imagine going through it.
Oh my goodness I was yelling at the screen. And he went because he didn't want the mother to be disappointed. Ugh it pissed me off so bad.
@Emma XTC hero? Do u know what a hero is? He did it. He should had confessed
Sadly, there are many men and women still locked up while innocent... we need to recognize those still lost to the corrupt system. Dayum
@Emma XTC doesnt matter. He wasnt being a HERO. He was at fault. He was taking responsibility for his actions and accepting consequences.
@Emma XTC doesnt matter. He wasnt being a HERO. He was at fault. He was taking responsibility for his actions and accepting consequences.
Unfortunately, what Antron's father went through is what COUNTLESS numbers of enslaved black mothers endured for fear of what would happen to their sons if they didn't comply with master's ways. Nothing's changed but the number of years.
Gil Sanders This!
I have never been so broken by a series. Every episode broke my heart. Amazing response.
This is why I haven't watched it yet... ETA after hearing this commentaey on it I'm gonna just have to watch it. I also cannot believe Candace Owen, Litterally no hope for that girl whatsoever.
I prepared myself mentally for the fourth episode since I had read that one was the hardest one to view... Well so much for preparation, I cried my eyes out, it was terrible I can't keep Korey Wise out of my head, I hope he is in a good place now and he's amongst people who truly love and care about him
That series was emotionally draining
You're so amazing
Your sacrifice is appreciated
That's what it was meant to do...to distract from the TRUTH by riling up your emotions. Those "boys" were GUILTY.
@@ButterCookie1984 and how might I ask , were they guilty
I think more than being angry/ok with Raymond selling drugs it’s showing that he had no other option. As a society we force people who are ex-cons/felons to re-commit crimes(or in Raymond and may others case-commit their first) as their sole survival option. We don’t provide them with a way to get a stable job or housing. I think Ava said at some point “we have to fear recently incarcerated people bc we know we’re no rehabilitating anyone.”(paraphrased).
I'm not a religious person but Korey's story sounds like one of those biblical epics they show during the hoildays!
He got involved solely to support his friend, ends up getting the worst punishment, a satanic beast tries to have him killed but fails. For over a decade he's tortured without mercy, during which time he crosses paths with the actual guilty party. Then years later he crosses path with guilty party *again* and the guy remembers him, but this time the guy is "saved" and finally confesses with proof to free Korey! Then Korey comes home to find that the satanic beast is now the ruler of the land!!! This is some Ben Hur type action!!!
Korey sounds like a genuine "Saint", bless his soul! Perhaps the meek will inherit the earth!
I don’t think I’m going to watch this series, mentally I just don’t think it’s for me right now, but I’m glad that it’s doing so well and so many people are streaming it
I had mentally prepare myself to watch it but I’m so happy I did because the pain motivated me because the stereotypes are so real but often ignored.
Meghan, I am barely 45 minutes in and struggling. Already feeling some kind of way and I have 2 sons.
I honestly wish I didn’t watch it😔
@@allsoladarity It is awful. I paused and googled the Linda lady, who has resigned from her positions due to the backlash from this documentary. She needed to. 6 rapes occurred on that day, the women and these 5 boy's. Rape is a harsh word but these young men was striped of their lives and innocence. I am on the last episode Korey was just raped in prison because he was tried as an adult
Take your time!
Sometimes just enjoying the technical work and performances helped me get thru it, like distancing myself mentally from the story for a little bit and just taking in the cinematography.
It's heartbreaking but it also promotes a healthy emotional release.
Who you telling sis? When i learned more about Kharey (Korey) it really drove the series home. I didn't even watch the in movie interviews at first. My first viewing experience i watched the REAL interviews and i was in tears. My least favorite part was Kharey's experiences IN jail. That shit broke me down. Seeing him in recent interviews, his trauma is apparent. I was angry the whole time. Those boys were failed by a system who didn't give a fuck in the first place.
Adult Raymond, GIRL.
Stacey Donald what’s wrong with finding someone attractive?
Blissful Martini She’s a troll who’s been commenting that on everyone’s comment. Ignore her
ADULT RAYMOND!!!
Chile....that was the bright spot of the movie. I instantly perked up when I saw his face.
yeah... you *know* what the guard meant...
it means what it means. Korey was abused by guards and the inmates.
Can you explain tho cause even I’m alittle lost
@@konway17 sexual abuse
yeah ava played some parts more subtle and i love her even more for doing that with the candy in respect to korey wise and what he's lived through
Lord Jesus I was afraid to know about that...
Yes I feel like we all thought that’s what he was referring to, but then you see things like korey giving him candy and it’s confusing bc you’re like is this why he’s torturing this boy? For some candy?? Perhaps outta respect she just didn’t wanna go all the way there....
As black People, we are expected to be super human , to forgive immediately, well, we are simple human beings, how can we not feel hate when these racist bastards show us over and over again how evil they truly are, for the past 400 years, they haven’t changed.
..Candace Owens is cancelled cancelled, this is why you can't root for everybody black! Sorry absolutely NOT Sorry!!
Candace is bought and paid for. Just like Brandon Tatum. Just like Diamond and Silk. Just like Denene Boreli. Just like Crystal Wright. Just like Jesse Lee Peterson.
Thank you. Fuck Candace Owens
Joel Staves and Stacey Dash.
@aimee glatt Oprah was executive producer for when they see us
Yusef's mother got on my nerves even though I understand that your child is your first priority.
@Emma XTC And the worst part is, Korey initially got involved with all this unfair mess because he wanted his homie, Yusef, the other selfish lady's son, to know he got a friend who'll always have his back. She couldn't even have it in mind and struggle for him as well. She messed up here, knowing Korey had it worse than the others (although, this last point was totally out of her control).
Joel Kotto Agreed! I think she was a heartless bitch honestly. There is no way any of my childhood friend’s Mothers would have let me sit there. One of my friends got arrested and her Mother didn’t have the money to bail her out. One of our other friend’s Moms did, and my Mom and another Mom was right behind her with the money, but we had gotten her out by then, thank God. So I know Yosef’s Mother could have done WAY more for Korey.
My son was adjudicated as an adult and sentenced to 7 years in a level 4 state prison when he was 15 years old. He was paid by two adults to beat someone up for them because the kid had been caught breaking into cars in their neighborhood. The prosecutor admitted to his lawyer (a public defender) that he was being made an example of because he was running for re-election on a platform of being tough on youth violence. His sentence was part of a plea deal with the adults involved, and all had to take it or go on trial. I wanted to go to trial. His lawyer had him sign the agreement behind our back. From that day on, he was considered a legal adult, and I was not even allowed to be present for any questioning, to obtain information, or to have any say in anything. For the first year he was in prison, he was kept in solitary confinement "for his own safety". When he was finally about to be released, the manager of the apartment complex we lived in called me into her office. She said she heard that I had a son who was being released from prison, and she wanted to inform me that if he was seen on the property at all, I would be evicted. She understood the circumstances, but wouldn't make any exceptions. That left him with no place to go when he was released but with his father, the worst person he could have lived with at that time. I couldn't afford to move or to lose my home, I had three other children who were still minors at the time. He is now 33 years old, and has been on "indefinite probation" since age 22. He is still unable to find legitimate work because he was adjudicated as a "violent felon", something we fought when he was being charged. He has been back to prison twice since his release because he tested positive for marijuana which was a probation violation. I'm not making any excuses for his part in what happened, but he was a child. The system sucks. When you're released, you've supposedly paid your debt to society, but you still can't get a break,
I'm so sorry.
Prosecutors are evil. I don't care if there are "any good ones".
I am so sorry for your family. I have no words of wisdom or comfort that I can give you. It is just so sad .
Oh my Gosh, I absolutely love your commentary. I’m preparing to go to Law School now and I’m aiming to be a prosecutor just because of this. I can’t finish watching it so i appreciate your commentary about this.
Aishia' C
I couldn’t watch it completely!!!! I had to watch around
angel telp sorrentino it literally took me all day to watch the first episode. Like I could only watch it in 8 minute increments then I had to take hours to do something else..
Great keep pushing. We need more black people in the justice system
Best of luck, Aishia!!! Please practice self-care because you’re going to need it. Our justice system is a corrupt beast of a system. There is a LOT of pressure to plead people out: it’s heartbreaking.
Domain K thank you so much. Pray for me please (if you believe in God!)
It was so hard to watch him be in solitary confinement. To see a person lose their mental stability as he did in solitary was the hardest thing ever. The whole series is frustrating to watch. But that part was the hardest thing to watch. I don't think anyone could ever forget it.
I hope Ava DuVernay makes a film about Kalief Browder... his story is just as heartbreaking. She did so well with this story, and although I was familiar with the case I was very emotional watching her series.
There is already a Netflix mini series about Kalief Browder.
@@remainhumble01 what's it called
"Adult Raymond--OOOHHH We not gon get into it, but you know" LMAOOO OH YES GIRL WE KNOW, WE KNOWWWWWW
Adult Raymond Jesus 😫😫😫😋
I think he was asking for sexual favors point blank period
mary I thought the same
Genia Brown I think the show maker was clear yet silent about the sexual assaults. It has happened it effected Korey we should know without seeing the gruesome details like 13 reasons why
mary I agree I was so saddened by just the thought so I’m glad that It wasn’t shown I would not have been able to see that
@@geniabrown1982 ikr. 😪😥😢😑
This was great work but I’m starting to get concerned about the PTSD our community has after watching these movies. What do we do with our emotions and pain after we turn it off?
Simply Aziza I agree! I think it’s best to have control over emotions and learn how to transmute that energy into solving the problem or making more of our people aware.
How y'all say... "Sis!!!!!" Put thw following on may induce PTSD
Mississippi burning
Rosewood
Roots
Amistad
And every other one I missed.
I hear you.
Talk about it, find community, make space, take action - these are some ways people around me have been working through the pain of watching these men's traumas played out and grappling with the reality that we still have an incredibly unjust, racist, classist and violent penal/justice system.
that scene when Kory asks his mom to visit him more, i had to stop the episode to cry and hug my dog, i needed a second
I was crying so hard there! Jesus Christ!
The guard was foreshadowing when he said"let me know what you can do for me". The guard on rikers orchestrated his initial beating and oversaw Cory's recovery in the scene with the nurse. The guard was basically covertly threatening him.
huwieking threatening him and the nurse too
Yessss I can't watch it I'd rather hear you discuss it.
I feel you and totally understand why you’re finding it hard to watch this beautiful but hard hitting series. But please watch it to honour the experiences of these men and the hard work Ava, Oprah and their teams put into bringing these facts to us. By watching this you may pick up some facts that can save a person who is in a similar situation’s life.
@@princesscutielu no need to watch. Every Black person should already know how this system of justice behaves. To spread trauma is worst than the injustice.
Jackie V. Meadows same. People kept telling me to watch it but when I watched the trailer I knew I couldn’t make it through the series
@@ebonythomas9675 I was born and raised in Boston....very racist. Now I live In NYC where it is still a problem. Personally.....I see way too much in daily life and have grown up in these times of the internet. With Tons of reading. Unfortunately the faces and names change but the tragedy is the same. I can't watch....shows like this....or more movies of us with slavery. I don't need it. The ones who are causing the problems need to be made to watch it and be traumatized by it.
I didn’t even see 12 years but this is important it’s very specific yet not uncommon don’t pass unless you don’t cry
Honestly, I just can't watch it. It's just too much.
You should watch it all though
@@4oho361 why have her suffer? No need to drown in suffering. Focus on reform!!
Please watch sister please
Me neither. And I won't for the sake of my mental health.
What had me mad is that black inmates would do this to a lil boy instead of protecting him till justice comes one way or another when you know he’s innocent regardless of being convicted jail dudes know how the system works to black men and boys wanna know how they feel after they found out he was innocent
The kid that played Korey should get a nom
"the white one played by joshua jackson *oh hell i'll just call him what he is*, Pacey!" i love my dawson creek kids lmaoo
😂😂😂😂
This series was so well done. I really love everything Ava does. She puts so much care into character development and all of the components, such as the cinematography and honest dialogue, just really work so well. She wanted to capture their humanity and she did that. Also, Jharrel Jerome’s performance was absolutely breathtaking. It was honest, raw, heartbreaking, just everything. He needs all the awards.
Those moments where that prison guard was saying to Korey “let me know if there’s something you can do for me” had me confused too. But eventually we see him give the guard some of his snacks he bought with his commissary. I think that was to highlight how corrupt the entire prison establishment is. Even the guards let their limited power get to their heads. Some of them exploit the prisoners, taking advantage of them during the worst circumstances of their lives. There was a bit of balance shown with the other prison guard who took to Korey as a fatherly figure, but the corruption is definitely there too.
Another thing that I got from those moments where they evil guard was making those propositions to Korey was the innocence that he and the other 4 boys had but was stripped from them during the entire ordeal. They were literally innocent kids. And that moment where I was confused as hell about what the fuck that guard wanted, I was reminded of that. Like...wow. I have certainly never experienced anything as traumatic as the Central Park Five, but I do have a few moments I sometimes think about when I was a little kid where an adult did or said something that chipped away at my innocence. And once it’s gone, it’s gone. And you don’t get to be an innocent kid anymore. At least not in some respects. It’s heartbreaking when I think about it. And it was even more heartbreaking watching the Central Park five enduring it.
Courtney T I’m with you. I felt confused and disgusted. That guard knew damn well that boy didn’t have any idea what he was talking about. Or what was about to happen to him.
@TruMusic89 I hated that she didnt have more compassion for Korey when he so desperately needed it. But I also understood her point too. Yusef was getting ready to get out and she didnt want anything to potentially ruin that. Even if it was to help Korey. To me it showed just what each mother was willing to do to help their kid.
TruMusic89 yea I wished that there was a bit more compassion from Yusef’s mom. Especially considering the circumstances. But it was a really fucked up situation on all sides and it seemed she tried to protect her son as best she could. It may have been easier for her to distance her and Yusef to cope with everything. 😔
Ava spoke on the Korey Wise portion of the story saying that it was far more worse than what we got to see in screen but she didn’t want to get too graphic to allow more demographics to watch which I’m so glad she did, even thoughts know the realities of prison but I still told my daughter as we watched “Baby if the rape him I can’t take it and I’m turning it off”🤦🏾♀️ Just to think that these boys were stripped of justice, childhood, freedom, innocence and even their manhood ! It’s just all to close to home with what’s continuing to happen today with Kalif Browder situation and many others smh #KnowYourRights #EducateAndProtectYourChildren
Girl can we talk about the Trash Rags that even allowed him to publish those articles.
Antwon father did what any man in his position with his background would do or any immigrant or just any person who doesn't have knowledge of the system and fears jail would do to be honest you thinking we just cooperate we can go home not knowing they are setting you up
I think the prison guard who kept asking Korey to let him know if there was anything that Korey could do for him was attempting to negotiate “protecting” Korey in exchange for sexual favors from him.
Gurl. When adult Raymond showed up on the screen... Good. Gawd. It was so good. (I said something different that I won’t repeat here because it is not at all appropriate.) Be still my heart 😉
wahoo4uva too bad all those parts were made up. That white C/O who was calling him kid was the usual white savior that they want us to have.
Tommy Forte i didn’t really get attached bc I knew better. And was korey tripping when he saw him again at the other jail? That later exchange was so weird.
@@tommyforte7157 So did the white prison guard really exist or was he added to try to tone down the darkness of the show? I didn't see him as a "savior" per say, but more as the only character in the prison that had any empathy.
No he only wanted cookies lol
Skylar Blue dont be stupid. So they also had to makenthe light skinned guy the one with his shirt off in shower as a sex symbol as well?! U sound young. Raymond didn't and don't look like that. That's called tv programming. They wanted to program black women with sexual lust and in this case a light skinned man. They could have made that Kevin or Antron but purposely chose to let that be the lighter skin person.
Same way with the white CO officer. That shyt ain't necessarily true
This series has highlighted the way Black folk are traumatized multidimensionally. Just watching material such as this will create massive trauma. I choose to Read on the Central Park 5. No more dramatized images of Black Hell for me. Not enough Joy for us to drown ourselves in such pain!
I'm 16 years old and african but I was born here in Europe and when this show came out I didn't really know if I wanted to watch it. I actually don't really like movies or shows that talk about racism against blacks because it just makes me sick and makes me cry. The sad thing here is that stuff like in WTSU still happens today in the US ( and other countries but mostly the US ) and when I see things like that on the news I just cry. I even have family in the US and I always think "What if this happens to.....". We really live in a sick world today
You’re so beautiful and smart!!😍😍😍😍😍
Fairstein makes my blood boil. Evil
"Adult raymond? ADULT RAYMOOOND?" THAT WAS ME THE WHOLE TIME LIKE DAMN!!!
***WARNING: MENTIONS OF DRUGS, VIOLENCE, & FORCED SEXUAL ACTS***
Also, when the guard says, "let me know if there's anything you can do for me", it's possible he could either be referring to drugs, money, or sexual favors. In the show, you can see that Korey secretly gives the guards food and sweets, but I don't think that's what they mean in real life...I mean, why would these corrupt guards do favors for these criminals just for some Twix candy? I've seen interviews from ex COs of Riker's Island that have said they used to make a lot of money by selling drugs and weapons to inmates. They would also use inmates to discipline each other (they would call it, "The Program" in Riker's). Using this "survival of the fittest" method seemed to work in the guards' favor because it was usually one or two guards monitoring 30-50 inmates at a time. The whole sexual undertone can also be assumed because it's not anything new that inmates become either prey or predators of forced sexual encounters, and I don't think it starts and end with just the prisoners, but with the CO's as well. Anything goes in those kinds of places and Rikers happens to have an extremely bad reputation. So I think what Korey had to do was to benefit these guards in either a financial, sexual, or disciplinary way. Obviously, this is just a theory and none of us could know for sure, but regardless, it makes me really sad and mad to think about.
You are so good. So smart, So insightful. What do you do for a living? I can see you doing political/cultural commentary on tv.
As a cop and a black man please, please, PLEASE, when you are Mirandized, always ask for your lawyer no matter what. Do not try and circumvent anything, try to follow directions as best as you can and always show your hands and keep your answers to yes and no. It sucks but its what you have to do.
MrVlogerGuy I agree to what you said but I go even further when it comes to the Miranda right: don’t speak at all. It starts off stating you have the right to remain quiet. That’s what a person should do until a representative (parent or attorney) appears - stay quiet.
@@regisnyder This is also true, I just don't want anyone to recklessly do anything that can set anyone off. Like I said as both a cop and a black man that is my best advice to black folks. It is a truth that for the moment we have to endure until it can be changed for the better.
We don't have to do anything. There is no good cop by the way.
@@myermayhem2520 That def is not true, I serve with men and women that truly want to protect and serve. But there are outliers when it comes to police brutality which I don't deny but to say that we all engage in such destructive behavior is not fair.
@@MrVlogerGuy Gaslighting. How can you "truly protect and serve" in a broken institution? A institution that offers you a level immunity and all cops are in on it? People follow all the rules and still die. You know this!
I would like to reiterate how important it is for Black folk specifically to avoid the overconsumption of trauma inducing media. I thought I was able to face Black Trauma head on and realized We do not have the systems in place to allow ourselves to absorb such hellish media without suffering mightily!
@Stacey Donald just unable to absorb negative horrific images any longer. I know how terrible life can be without filling up on trauma.
Also any black person that participated in their brutalization should be retaliated against
Once again, you’ve nailed it. Not like you need my validation, I just had to share how much I loved this analysis. Thanks for your work and spreading the knowledge!!
I cried through this movie. She did an amazing job.
I honestly feel like the guard was referring to sex but of course to protect and respect the actual Korey wise the “Let me know if there’s something you can do for me” was watered down to giving him his commissary. 🤷🏾♀️
That guard gave me the creeps
Damn, you need to be writing books not doing UA-cam. You a true philosopher.
So true....her insight is God sent !!!!
I've never had this type of emotional reaction to a series. I broke down sobbing after the second episode.
Andy Johnson never! It was overwhelming
Me too!
Your review deserves an award right alongside of this Netflix miniseries. 😊
I am now watching "Time," the story of Kalief Browder, which is really good and then I think I am moving on to "13th." Not sure if mentally I will be able to take all this, but I think it's important to know.
Frankly, I'm trying to experience When They See Us through osmosis because of how hard a watch it is. I tried to watch this a few days ago and everything in me told me to back up and see something else.
I have put this series on chill. I have watched so many reactions to it that I know I am not mentally in a position to watch it. Just hearing about the case gets my rage so worked up and I am not even American. So I know that right now I cannot watch it. There are certain films I have not watched because I know that I cannot handle them yet. I get too emotionally involved and it becomes such a burden on the soul.
Adult Raymond! Ok, I'm done.
I couldn't watch this without my son being in the house. I couldn't handle it emotionally without knowing my son was ok. He's 13. It was hard for me to separate him from those boys.
Girl...his muscles in that tight tee shirt!!!👏🏾 lol No but really. My brother (he's 22) watched it the same night I did and we had to have a talk. It scares me to think this could happen to him. Best we can do is stay involved and educated. Know your rights. The cops are not your friends
I hope you watched it with him
Exactly
Adult Raymond! Oh sis I know!
This movie triggered the crap out of me! I actually had to leave my house! My trauma from military and ptsd was strong geez!
So I had to skip some parts. Geez!
Kore, oh my goodness this killed me!!!!!!!!
When the. Guard said what can you do for me it seemed sexual! Idk!
Protect yourself!! There are less stress inducing ways to understand the Central Park 5.
On GAWD the 4th episode legit BROKE me....
@B dub it was harrowing. Very hard to watch. I knew what was going down back in the day while it was actually happening and it upset me then. The dramatization of it with the Netflix special reopened old wounds, so to speak...
@B dub Most of it, yes. And again, this dramatization of this travesty of justice absolutely FLOORED me.
@B dub They had nothing to do with the attack that they all spent years in jail for, that much is undeniable.
I always enjoy your perspective.
I literally cried my eyes out when Korey found out his sister died, and throughout the whole series I felt so hopeless...
And it's was wild to find out that Linda Fairstein was inspiration behind Law and Order: SVU... Like Fairstein and Mariska Hargitay (Benson) are real life friends
Whoa!
I believe that him giving the guards the snacks from commissary was a metaphor for sexual favors for protection.
Brilliant and visceral analysis! I know I WILL watch it soon, but I can't get myself to do so right now. I am so fed up with this side of American society. I've gone through so many emotions that I'm just tired.
Fun fact: the kid who plays Kevin is actually related to Samira Wiley (OITNB, Handmaid’s Tale).
Omg now that u say that I see the resemblance
I don't want to break.... Keeping that spirit off me by not watching. I haven't seen it.
Jharrel Jerome was amazing! he killed his scenes!!!
I watched this because I felt like it was a lesson. We need to know our history to watch out for our present. The first episode made me physically ill, but I got through it. I truly appreciate your commentary.
I didnt wanna know what he meant by saying that, the guard in all... but i knew and cried
Excellent critique. The points you can be repurposed as critical components for:
1. 'the conversations' we need to have in our families, communities, and our churches
2. pertinent book reading lists for family, community, and church book club enlightenment discussions
2. 'the checklist' for the 'the talk' we give our children
3. strategies for platform issues to challenge and demand from candidates in return for our 2020 vote.
Thank you for your powerful insights.
This was a brilliant TV program, but I'll be damned if it wasn't deeply upsetting. Brilliant acting throughout, brilliant production, brilliant everything.
My coworker asked me that very question, how did the case move forward when the mounting lack of evidence was so obvious. It baffles me but I answered him by saying that's because people, more specifically conservatives, hate being wrong 🤷🏾♀
It was sexual. It was implied but you see him give him candy. Which was weird because I would think the guard would have just bought his own candy... @forharriet
I believe the candy was a metaphor for him giving the guard "something sweet". You'll notice Korey wasn't the only one giving the guard candy.
I am just curious if Kory reached out to the Guard that had his back. In the movie Kory told him hes going to pay him back I wonder did he and do they keep in touch. Even in your darkest day God sends some kind of sunshine. God Bless these Men. Thanks for the recap.
15 mins in and I had to stop. Days later someone said it was based on a real story, my heart near fell out of me. My heart goes to all Black/African Americans having to endure this for the past 400 years😢😢😢
Love from a Nigerian living in the UK.
It is hard to watch. I was crying and had to pause. But it's important that we watch this series. It made me realize how important it is that we know what our legal rights are.Also, these boys lived this nightmare. We honor and recognize their plight by doing so. Lastly, we need to get Ava her views.
Ava did an amazing job telling their story but it being soooo real and hit too close to home that it’s a one & done for me. I watched it once and can’t do it again.
I had to prepare myself mentally, emotionally and spiritually to watch that movie. I had times I broke down and had to come back a few days to watch more and it took a week or two to finish it because it was a movie that did it’s job and held a mirror to the face of everyone who watched!!
This movie made my husband and I have that TALK with our boys that we’ve spoke on but not to the extent of what we had after watching the movie. Seeing young boys that look like your own children go through this HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE scared me to my core!!!
I'm so glad you mentioned Marci Wise! Almost all of the reviews covered by black contributors have not mentioned or barely mentioned Marci. Korey Wise's love for his sister was so important to his story!
YESSS!!! WTSU IT’S SOOO HEAVY!!!! I couldn’t stop feeling disgusted and heartbroken, I literally had to stop it a couple times, as I felt too emotionally drained, but even so, I can’t recommend it enough, it is a MUST WATCH. You definitely gotta be in the right set of mind though, be READY both emotionally and mentally before delving into it. 💔💔
Something about Trisha Meili's memory loss but wanting to clear police and prosecutors of wrong doing feels contradictory and suspect to me. She was a victim of something horrible but so were these boys. Why not stand with them.
yaedat yen 💴💴 white women will put the good of white supremacy before their own needs. framing 5 black boys was more of a win then getting 1 black man that was the perpetrator.
I felt the same way! Is it wrong of me that I feel something towards her, even knowing she is a victim?
Karen Aguilar I don’t think it’s wrong. she doesn’t feel wrong being an accomplice. She said those 5 boys are not innocents and that she knew their was a 6th boy involved.
Your reviews are always lit 🔥 I learn so much new vocabulary messing with you 😂😂♥️
When they played that Jay Z song They Don't Know😍🤩🥰
DMX
I still cannot watch it. I’m so emotionally connected to these stories that I am a mess after watching these stories. I myself was quite young when this happened. I vaguely remember hearing of it in passing. Even hearing you speak of this was emotionally draining. Maybe one day I will have the strength to watch it. I am glad for works like this to shine a light on the injustice and to put actual truth out there. These stories help to shape the way we move forward and the fact is that the system NEEDS to change. It needs to be dismantled and completely overhauled.
I haven't watched it yet. I want to with my 9yrs old son. I'm going to break down, I know it!! Guess I'll watch & break down B4 I watch with my son 👌🏾 I was also Very Interested and Excited to hear your thoughts. This case was and is Disgusting, Outrageous, Disrespectful & Unfortunately STILL RELEVANT!!! SMDH 🤧😭🙏🏾✊🏾💞💯
I agree with you 100% I was so mad while watching this story. BUT I PROMISE YOU I could not stop watching either!! It was painful to watch but also so well done!! Such an excellent way to tell this story and really show what happened. I know these men are all grown but I just want to hug all of them am say sorry to them.
I am one of those who hasn't watched the series yet. I first heard of this crime in April this year. I am a Kenyan and this story never reached my country as I am sure I would have remembered it as a teen. I was visiting Toronto and a documentary about these boys was being shown in my hotel room. I was getting ready for a sales meeting with 40 attendees so it was going to be a very long day. I had to sit down and watch the whole documentary because I could not believe what I was hearing. I broke down and had to wash my face and do my make up all over again for my meeting. I do not have the heart to watch the series right now but I wanted to listen to your review. This is a scar for America and the nation should be affected by the atrocities that were done to these boys and million other minority Americans because the privileged feel the need to be superior than others. I pray for America and wish the nation well. There has been too much in the history for America to be called the land of the free. It is anything but that for any American....privileged or not.
@For Harriet When you talked about the ignorance or victim badge white women do to excuse their lack of being “woke” reminds me of the Kentuckian woman who killed a giraffe was playing the ignorant role during a CBS Morning Show interview about her actions and the backlash. 🤦🏾♀️
Same with the woman that harassed and called the police on that black man entering his OWN apartment.
She followed him all the way up to his flat, watched him turn the key and walk in and STILL called the police! 🤦♀️
Then pleaded she just didn't know he lived there, but yet after she found out she still called 911 🤔
First off, this review is amazing and so we'll planned out. Secondly, I cried my eyes out like crazy starting around forty minutes into the first episode and it never stopped. Thirdly, my boyfriend and I despite having friends who are lawyer and "good" police officers had our apartment searched three times by LAPD without any good reasoning. The third time it happened I wasnt home and they cuffed my boyfriend while they searched through our place. When he called me after they left, we knew we had to take action because if that kept happening we didn't see how the situations would be able yo keep ending peacefully. All three searches were within a week. The last two were within five hours of each other. My boyfriend is a tall brother (6'6) who's really more of a gentle giant, but no policeman coming to the door is gonna think that.
I feel like this is the “Roots” of our generation...