When They See Us

Dear Ava DuVernay

I was 8 years old in 1989, I don’t recall hearing about this story then, but as I got older I heard tidbits about the story but I didn’t know the whole truth about the story. When I heard this story was going to be created, and it was going to be done by you, I was like, “Ok cool”. I have always been a fan of your work and creativity but, when I hit “Begin” I had no idea what I was about to endure, every emotion imaginable sadness, fear, anger, doubt, hope, then optimism came through my mind and heart in just episode 1 and 2. I thought to myself, this cannot be happening, then I thought that could have been one of my friends, nephews, or brothers. It was raw, gritty, yet honest and truthful. Black people in Amerikkka particularly black men have endured injustices since the first slave ship arrived, but to see it so raw and uncut so coerced, so evil-spirited from the interrogation, to the false confessions, to the charges AND they didn’t even know each other “who is Kevin” “What lady in the park”, “I didn’t see no lady”, it wasn’t just the justice system, it was the press they were guilty by public opinion, Trump placing an ad in the paper, it was a whole orchestrated mess from the police to the prosecutor to the press. I knew what was going to happen, but I couldn’t stop watching, I kept thinking to myself how can they get away with this, no evidence, no DNA, time differences, the boys not knowing each other, and they were willing to say anything just to go home. Being found GUILTY was the fate as soon as they stepped into that police precinct and was rounded up by the police, expect Korey Wise, Korey Wise name was not even on the list but being my brother’s keeper he went to the police precinct any way in support of his friend Yusef. I don’t want to reveal too many details for my readers who have not seen it yet, but man it was damn near watching a horror film. Ava you are my muse, you are the black creative who was specifically chosen to tell the truth about this story.

Central Park 5 with Producer and Director Ava DuVernay

To my brothers Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson and Korey Wise I look at you all and I see my friends, brothers, and nephews that could have been one of them. I am so sorry that this injustice happened to you, I am so sorry the press crucified you, I am sorry Trump put an ad out asking for the death penalty (the irony he is the President now), so sorry the prosecutor Linda Fierstein had a vendetta against you, you wonder how she sleeps at night, but I think she slept fine just as her ancestors did when they finished lynching black men. I am grateful you were compensated but I know no amount of money can make up for the time you lost, you can never go back to being 14, 15 and 16 again. Thank you for sharing your story with the world.

Psalms 64:6-9 They plot injustice and say, ‘We have devised a perfect plan!’ Surely the human mind and heart are cunning. But God will shoot them with his arrows; they will suddenly be struck down. He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

You can watch “When They See Us” on Netflix

#BGUC