When They See Us

Left (Korey Wise, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana Jr, and Yusef Salaam)

I watched the documentary, “When They See Us” on Netflix on Friday night. I’d never heard of this case, and to my recollection, it wasn’t covered in Texas media outlets. Words can’t express how I felt watching five innocent young (ages 14, 15, and 16) boys being humiliated and sent to prison for a crime they didn’t commit. I try to be a positive person, but in a world filled with hate and structured racism, it’s like pulling teeth.

If you haven’t seen this documentary, I would advise you with caution. It’s so heartbreaking. It’s definitely a must see if you don’t know about the injustices done toward these young boys. This is a story that needs to be in our history books and never forgotten, like the 911 Attacks, Pearl Harbor, and the Jewish Holocaust. The Central Park 5 should be alongside these travesties. Our children and grandchildren and so forth need to know about the injustices of Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Korey Wise, and Raymond Santana Jr.

Imagine walking home from school at the age of 14 and being picked up by the police, interrogated, beaten up,  prosecuted, and sentenced to 14 years in prison for a crime that you didn’t commit. The only evidence against you is the color of your skin. Imagine how your life would change forever. Well, this is the reality of these five young men seen in the picture above. Each one of them spent from 6-14 years incarcerated. And what about the District Attorney that prosecuted the case and knew that all five of these young men were innocent? Prosecutor, Linda Fairstein lived her life like a queen, until the movie was released on Friday. Fortunately, she has resigned from the board of trustees at her Alma Mater Vassar college. The talks of her book deal is hanging in the balance via the outrage of social media after seeing the movie. Linda Fairstein’s life deserves to be changed forever just like these young men. Especially, how she knew they were innocent, but to her, it was about winning! What about humanity? 

Prosecutor, Linda Fairstein of “Central Park 5”

The sad part about this injustice is, that it’s still happening to this day. There are thousands of innocent people in prison for crimes they didn’t commit.

America is the home of the brave, and the land of the free is what I’ve heard all my life. I see the total opposite. It’s a nightmare in a cage for people with darker hue.

I’d ask anyone that’s reading this to stop what you are doing, understand, and put yourself in others’ shoes. It’s the only way we will have compassion and see the human in humanity.

Until next time, love, peace, and positive vibes.