A while back #BlackLivesMatter and #HandsUpDon’tShoot trended nationwide, what was to be a outcry or discussion about the flaws of the criminal justice system ended up being riled up by some as an anti-police, lawlessness debate. #TakeAKnee subsequently was muddied up as anti-American and unpatriotic. The irony of it being that the outrage, the cries, the actions were but a beseeching to be seen, to be heard, to be treated fairly.

     Some would quickly point out that it’s 2019 why do we have to bring race into everything, but, a short walk down the street would convey that many people of color are still perceived like a mirage.  A culture in which the default profile of many black or brown people is statistics and stereotypes, which results in a lot of them finding themselves in dire situations regardless of the norm like the cases BBQ Betty, Permit Patty or Cornerstone Caroline.

       Since the Trayvon Martin case that spearheaded the nationwide outrage of the unjust justice system, there have been multiple recorded cases of extreme law enforcement or incarcerations. Consequentially it invoked the question, how much went on when people of color were less aware of their rights, less financially viable, when recording devices were scarce, when demographics and juries were more unlike them? Conspicuously the injustice didn’t stop post Jim Crow then prop up of late, rather a lot of injustice was just not documented, hidden, written off or went through a system that undoubtedly stack the odds against it.

      When They See Us outlines a compelling story of one of the many cases. Whether you watch the documentary or the Netflix series, any reasonable person’s first thought would wonder why a case that barely had any merit went so far…destroyed so many lives. How could it have gone so wrong? Well systematic oppression is not just one component, it’s not just a roll of the dice but a collage of a network(s) of systems that often just needed one figure to step up to realign but none did.

     The Central Park Five case wasn’t just the failure of one person or department, but a variety of elements. These ventured from the public fear of pairs or groups of young people of color, a fear that is still present in many areas of the country resulting in their depiction as thugs. The public fear was of course turned into a political game and career moving opportunities.

       The fear was amplified by the media who instead of proper investigations or fact reporting chose to increase their ad revenues with opinion columns and news slots which were often biased or catered to particular demographics. With the public and media on board the justice system was free to provide a case that fit their narrative. Delving into the facts of the story one may think that surely society learned from that scenario, that changes were made, responsibility taken, Sadly the changes made at that time made it worse for younger incarcerated black or brown males and none of those involved in the cruelty ever took responsibility for it.

      It did however spark a change in methods of interrogation but though level of crime decreased the number of prisoners has been sky-rotting. There’s the means, technology, public support for reform but will the criminal justice system ever be fully fair? Wish there was a simple answer to that but as history shows the question has been numerously asked before and though it’s not as bad as it once was, it still resounds and echoes in the wall of broken homes, juvenile centers, cells, prisons, courts.

    Chronicling the sequence and aftermath of events of the Central Park Five won’t do it justice. Reading that five colored teenage boys were negligently and racially charged then underwent the perils of the prison system isn’t as compelling as exploring the documentary or series. It’s a story that necessitates one to not just watch but really see. A story that cultivates scrutinizing of recent cases which seemingly outline the same biased notions, irregularities, systematic racial injustice that still faces many young people of color.

     People whose lives are robbed off too early and propped into seemingly more upcoming for profit prisons that not only fail to rehabilitate them but also gives them an almost zero building block once they’re out. It’s a system that entails that it may not be just being at the wrong place, wrong time, wrong words, wrong clothes, wrong lawyers, wrong jury, wrong judge, wrong public or media opinion but simply the ‘wrong skin color,’ and just like that the odds are stacked against you for your lifetime. Odds that not only also affect one’s community and family but their generations and generations to come.

     In as much as the system is flawed, what is incredible is the hearts and determination of people of color. As James Baldwin stated “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.” Yes being aware of all that has been and is still going on may result in rage, frustration, despair…rightfully so, but many people of color have been marching on, rising against the tides, organizing and working to impact the system, building, loving, living.

      The heart and courage it took for the five boys to rebuild their lives and hold on to hope is exemplary. Someday just like the five were able to be finally seen, the scales of justice would hopefully be balanced and every single American regardless of demographics, race, identity, religious affiliations would have a fair living chance. It may take time, effort and perhaps even a miracle but the years of slavery and segregation didn’t manage to extinguish the hope, strength, fire and light in people of color and at some point that light won’t be hidden anymore and their faces would be seen, voices heard, stories told and lives matter.