We are currently experiencing a pivotal moment in the fight for racial equality. Thus, supporting the Black community right now is immensely vital. One way to do so is by watching, listening, and reading works of art by Black creators; this way, we can appreciate and learn from their stories. The Black community has unique perspectives to offer, and by listening to these voices, we can expand our collective understanding of the country and world we live in. 

“Fruitvale Station”- written and directed by Ryan Coogler

Michael B. Jordan stars as Oscar Grant in Fruitvale Station, based on a true story. In the movie, we see Oscar’s life through one single day as he tries to escape his life as a drug dealer and find a new job. He also attempts to reconcile with his girlfriend and be a better father to his young daughter. At the end of the night, we see his life that was beginning to have hope take a turn from an encounter with the police.

When the credits ran, I was left with feelings of both frustration and sorrow. I felt angry that the police could so blatantly treat someone with such contempt. How could the police feel fine after hurting someone’s father and son? This served as a motivation for me to learn more about systematic racism and its role in police brutality.

“When They See Us” – created and directed by Ava Duvernay

“When They See Us” is a television miniseries about a true story of five African American and Hispanic boys facing the justice system in New York City. After a woman is raped and killed in Central Park, the police are eager to find the culprits and find the five boys guilty in an unlawful investigation. 

My first thought after finishing the series was that the legal system failed these boys. It was eye-opening to see how the police worked to find scape-goats and pin them to the crime so easily. No one within the precinct stood up to their colleagues who carried out this unjust case. The audience can see that there needs to be more checks on investigations, especially when the case has such a large public prominence.

“The Vanishing Half” by Britt Bennet

This book features two Black twin sisters growing up in a small town in Lousiana in the 1940s who witness the lynching of their father. At the age of 16, the two decide to escape to New Orleans, but when one sister disappears, we see the two sisters living very different lives. 

While one sister combats racism, the other tries to pass as white in order to be successful. This is a unique perspective on the dichotomy of how white people and Black people are treated in life, and the different opportunities available for each race. The reading provokes a sense of recognition among its readers; they are able to see that white privilege does exist and how it can affect people’s lives.

“This is America” by Donald Glover (Childish Gambino)

“This is America” is an award-winning song that Gambino wrote to send a message to his audience. He is trying to say that Americans care more about gun rights than the lives of people. In the music video, he shows instances of gun violence in school shootings and police brutality. Many other well-known Black artists are vocalists in this piece. Gambino used his platform to express his voice and message through music. 

The music video left many in shock with the depth of realism in the various scenes. Even though the melody is upbeat, the topic is very serious and emotional. I think he did this to show how people are ignoring the injustice and simply living happily through it, revealing how this is not okay. His music video was played by over 700 million people, sparking conversation on racial justice issues in the U.S.