I highly recommend this documentary because whether you know a little or a lot about what happened in Ferguson, this documentary has new things you can learn and feel. It answers the question of "what was all the ruckus" about there? Like Birmingham, Stonewall, and Oakland, Ferguson got on the map as a jump-off point for a new level of mass organization (case and point the Black Lives Matter movement) against institutionalized racism and police violence against Black people.
Further, this documentary does an amazing job of humanizing Mike Brown through the main subject, HIS FATHER. You also get to see many sides of the story because In addition to interviews of Mike Brown's family, friends, and neighbors, there are interviews of Black and white police and various everyday people as well as activists and protestors featured. I was especially moved by the parents of many Black people who've been killed by police coming together in one room in the documentary to support each other while being shown to have become activists.
At a the Q&A after a screening of the film, I heard it's creator (Mobolaji) say that he began making this documentary with personal money straight out his pocket. He made deep sacrifices to make something that would answer his little son's question of, "What did you do when this happened, Daddy?" Mobolaji said he picked up the camera and just went down there. Not famous and unknown to the participants in the documentary, he hit the ground forming relationships and getting as many interviews and footage that he could to combine with archival footage and statistical data.
The documentary marks the mid 2010s era in a critical way and should become required viewing for schools and a staple documentary contributing to the understanding of African-American life and resistance.
Further, this documentary does an amazing job of humanizing Mike Brown through the main subject, HIS FATHER. You also get to see many sides of the story because In addition to interviews of Mike Brown's family, friends, and neighbors, there are interviews of Black and white police and various everyday people as well as activists and protestors featured. I was especially moved by the parents of many Black people who've been killed by police coming together in one room in the documentary to support each other while being shown to have become activists.
At a the Q&A after a screening of the film, I heard it's creator (Mobolaji) say that he began making this documentary with personal money straight out his pocket. He made deep sacrifices to make something that would answer his little son's question of, "What did you do when this happened, Daddy?" Mobolaji said he picked up the camera and just went down there. Not famous and unknown to the participants in the documentary, he hit the ground forming relationships and getting as many interviews and footage that he could to combine with archival footage and statistical data.
The documentary marks the mid 2010s era in a critical way and should become required viewing for schools and a staple documentary contributing to the understanding of African-American life and resistance.