Movie Review: Who’s Streets?
I got chills before this film even started, when the dedication read, “To Michael Brown, Jr.” next to a photo of him in his graduation cap and gown. It became apparent as the film progressed that it was not only created for him, but for anyone of any color, gender or sexual orientation who has ever been a victim of discrimination.
The film is broken up into five chapters, each beginning with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr., Frantz Fanon, Sojourner Truth, Langston Hughes or Maya Angelou. It follows the separate lives and struggles of two activists in Missouri, David Whitt and Brittany Ferrell, in relation to Michael Brown’s death.
“Who’s Streets?” is described by writer-director Sabaah Folayan as a “narrative correction” of the press coverage surrounding the shooting of the 18-year-old in Ferguson, MO. After Michael was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson Aug 9, 2016, with his hands in the air, the unarmed teenager was left in the street for four hours before an ambulance took him away. These events are documented in the film through cellphone video footage and interviews with witnesses, each one emotional and powerful.
Driven by grief and outrage, the community members of Ferguson took to the streets in the nights following Michael’s death, wearing t-shirts proclaiming “I Am Mike Brown” and leading candlelit vigils. The mainstream media covered the riots that ensued after the police arrived at the scene, while “Who’s Streets?” shows the citizen’s perspective: disbelief and horror as the police responded to their once-peaceful rallies by unleashing tear gas and rubber bullets on those attempting to grieve, even calling in K9 units and the National Guard. “We had a peaceful protest all day, but that ain’t the story you heard,” one rally member says in the film, after watching a news report of the rally.
Although the events that transpired in Ferguson were not the first example of police brutality in America, it was the first time many Americans realized the reality of it. What began as support rallies for Michael’s family and neighbors quickly evolved into a powerful Black Lives Matter movement, empowering people all over the country. This heartfelt documentary demonstrates the moment when, deciding enough is enough, the American people decided to never again turn a blind eye to police brutality.
The unhappy ending of this film is unnecessary but strong proof that racism still exists in our country. Reminding its viewers what really matters, and proving that we still have a long road to walk to equality, “Who’s Streets?” showcases the strength of a community and the power of democracy. A hopeful film that both saddens and empowers, its rawness encourages all to stand up for rights and beliefs, challenging us to imagine a world where all members of the human race are finally equal.
@kennamalan