The number of black people killed by police is alarming, yet quickly becoming a part of our norm. Police brutality is bigger than the presidential election and the “resolutions” that both candidates have determined will fix it. Being a black person in America has become a crime, and we have seen over and over again that our bodies have become target practice. The push to bring about change is in our hands. Harry Belafonte’s organization, Sankofa, is one of the organizations pushing to bring about that change with their new PSA.
A PSA entitled ‘Against The Wall’ spends 4 minutes using police radio accounts and 911 calls that were from the stories of unarmed black men who were killed. The film features black celebrities like Michael B. Jordan, Danny Glover, Michael K. Williams and Sophia Dawson, as well as political/social commentators Van Jones and Marc Lamont Hill. Belafonte hopes that by showing familiar faces, we will become more sensitized, and therefore able to really see the problem. “By using the faces of those we recognize — familiar faces — we look to re-sensitize the community to really see the problem,” Belafonte said in a statement. “We are shining a light and calling out to all to take a look, listen and feel within your heart to take action.”
The PSA pulls on the heart strings of our community as the camera focuses in on celebrity faces as they are up against the wall with their hands raised. Ending with the words “Black Is Not A Weapon”, the PSA hopes to challenge those outside of the black community to face their own racial bias.
