65: When They See Us (2019)

In 1989, five Black and Latino teenagers—Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise—were wrongfully convicted of raping a white woman in Central Park. There was no real evidence tying them to the crime, but the police got confessions from them through pressure and intimidation. Because of fear, racism, and the way the media blew the story up, the public was quick to judge. These boys were punished for something they didn’t do, and their case became a powerful example of how the justice system can fail—especially when race is involved.

The Netflix mini-series When They See Us, directed by Ava DuVernay, tells their story from their point of view. It follows them through the arrests, the unfair trials, the time they spent in prison, and their eventual release after the real attacker came forward years later. The show doesn’t just explain what happened—it shows the emotional weight these boys and their families carried, and how the system is often stacked against young men of color.

Watching this series today, it’s impossible not to see the connections to what’s still happening in our country. We’re still dealing with racial bias in law enforcement, wrongful convictions, and a justice system that isn’t always fair. The show hits hard because these problems aren’t just history—they’re still part of the world we live in.

That’s why I’m not just glad this show made it onto our list—I’m really thankful I got to watch it. It left a mark. But I’m also curious: how did our other two hosts feel about it? What did they take away from this powerful look at one of America’s most painful failures when it comes to race and justice? 

Well sit back, relax with a can of Pepsi, some popcorn as we deep dive into this 2019 true crime, courtroom drama mini-series, When They See Us. 

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