This movie is about the riots and trials following the death of Freddie Grey, which medical examiners ruled a homicide while in Baltimore police custody. My only complaint about the film is that I felt more details could have been given initially about the death, as it really opened with a landscape which was riot and unrest. I really loved everything else and felt it was a great depiction of black people trying to pull each other up by their boot straps. It also pays tribute to the actions of several law enforcement leaders bent on working with the community to change the system. My favorite part was when the black community members (some ex-convicts) play a football game with the Baltimore police department in an effort to show solidarity between groups.
I really appreciate all the deeper dives into the lives of protestors who's rights were violated, when police arrested them. It was also great to hear their parents voice their concern over parenting and pushing their children to not sacrifice their education or future opportunities for the cause of Black Lives Matter. I felt it made all of the stories exceptionally relatable, as we could sense the youthful hunger for change while simultaneously acknowledge the plight of real world responsibilities (having a job, going to college, etc.) which are often difficult for young activists to manage simultaneously. Any white Mom or Dad with a son or daughter who is an artist or has chosen a less lucrative career path can relate to these challenges. Showing families and universal struggle helps bridge the gap between races and widen the audience for who these people are and what they are trying to do.
Finally, a lasting message was left in that (1) although officers were not convicted of crimes, the Department of Justice investigation of the Baltimore police found and documented major problems in the criminal justice system and (2) the language of community members around job creation in Baltimore as being a tool for lowering crime in the city was a convincing dialogue with law enforcement. In the first sense, I think institutional support such as that provided by the DOJ gives legitimacy to the movement. In the second sense, I thought the consideration that law enforcement needs help from other policy makers to create jobs and opportunity to reduce crime and over-policing, is a good point. It should not remove them from accountability, but it should inspire other black men and women to become economists and help solve issues of unemployment and underemployment in our cities.
I will admit the ending felt more sobering than inspiring. I guess I can't expect a happy ending to an unjust world, but I was hoping to find the thin line between challenge and opportunity, and I think this ended with an air of hopelessness. I suppose that may have been the point.
I really appreciate all the deeper dives into the lives of protestors who's rights were violated, when police arrested them. It was also great to hear their parents voice their concern over parenting and pushing their children to not sacrifice their education or future opportunities for the cause of Black Lives Matter. I felt it made all of the stories exceptionally relatable, as we could sense the youthful hunger for change while simultaneously acknowledge the plight of real world responsibilities (having a job, going to college, etc.) which are often difficult for young activists to manage simultaneously. Any white Mom or Dad with a son or daughter who is an artist or has chosen a less lucrative career path can relate to these challenges. Showing families and universal struggle helps bridge the gap between races and widen the audience for who these people are and what they are trying to do.
Finally, a lasting message was left in that (1) although officers were not convicted of crimes, the Department of Justice investigation of the Baltimore police found and documented major problems in the criminal justice system and (2) the language of community members around job creation in Baltimore as being a tool for lowering crime in the city was a convincing dialogue with law enforcement. In the first sense, I think institutional support such as that provided by the DOJ gives legitimacy to the movement. In the second sense, I thought the consideration that law enforcement needs help from other policy makers to create jobs and opportunity to reduce crime and over-policing, is a good point. It should not remove them from accountability, but it should inspire other black men and women to become economists and help solve issues of unemployment and underemployment in our cities.
I will admit the ending felt more sobering than inspiring. I guess I can't expect a happy ending to an unjust world, but I was hoping to find the thin line between challenge and opportunity, and I think this ended with an air of hopelessness. I suppose that may have been the point.