When They See Us dramatises the 1989 Central Park Five case

Collider reports that Netflix's 2019 four-part miniseries When They See Us dramatizes the 1989 Central Park Jogger case and the wrongful convictions of five Black and Latino teenagers. The series recreates the brutal assault and rape of the Central Park Jogger in New York City, the roundup of teenagers described as "wilding" in the park, and the arrest and charging of Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk), Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), Yusef Salaam (Ethan Herisse), Raymond Santana (Marquis Rodriguez) and Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome) despite what the article says was "zero evidence." Through intense interrogations some of the boys were coerced into confessing; four were sent to juvenile detention centers for maximum sentences, Korey was sent to an adult prison and was the last to leave in 2002, and their convictions were vacated in 2002 after the real perpetrator confessed.

The five later won a settlement after suing the city. Directed by Ava DuVernay, the miniseries focuses on racism and the long-lasting effects of trauma and earned 16 Emmy nominations and two wins. Jharrel Jerome won an Emmy for his portrayal of Korey, and the series features Felicity Huffman as Linda Fairstein, Vera Farmiga as the lead prosecutor, and actors playing the boys' parents including Niecy Nash, Aunjanue Ellis, Marsha Stephanie Blake, John Leguizamo and the late Michael K.

Williams.

Key Topics

Culture, Central Park Five, Central Park Jogger, Ava Duvernay, Jharrel Jerome, Linda Fairstein