In 2013, the Black Lives Matter hashtag began trending on Twitter, spawning one of the most famous civil rights movements of the 21st century. A new documentary of the same name explores the origins, impact and evolving mission behind this grassroots phenomenon. These elements together form the cornerstone of the revolution.
The hashtag that defines segregation in modern America was originally posted by Patrice Carles, a Seattle-based activist and theater director who is interviewed for the film. The Cullers took to social media to express their outrage and confusion immediately after community security guard George Zimmerman, who killed unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, was acquitted. Her simple eloquence conveyed the frustration of many in America and beyond. In the months that followed, after several shots were fired at white police officers and unarmed inner-city youths, the motivation for the protests increased.
Callus chooses to channel her activism energy through her art. Filmmakers are recording them in preparation for a new show that is about to tour the country. Their productions feature a chorus of non-actors expressing the realities of life in America as people of color. Issues of racial profiling, police brutality, political stagnation and a damaged legal system find tangible resonance when told as personal stories. The cast’s harrowing accounts portray everyday life rife with fear, injustice and a constant sense of danger from a ruthless and ever-vigilant police force and prison state.
People of color in America have lived with these threats for generations, but social media is finally giving them an unfiltered platform to share their experiences with the world. Racially motivated atrocities, such as the recent ones in Ferguson, Baltimore, and Charlotte, were broadcast and commented on almost immediately. The images they produced were a wake-up call for some and a rallying cry for many others.
Produced from the critically acclaimed VPRO Backlit series, Black Lives Matter offers a powerful lens into this ongoing crisis.
Directed by: Nirit Peled
