Directed and produced by Peabody and three-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Laurens Grant, and executive produced by Jesse Williams, and promising to tell the real story of the brave young people who have led the powerful social movement (dubbed the new “civil rights movement”), the BET original documentary “Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement,” will have its broadcast premiere on Thursday, May 26 at 9 PM ET/PT.
The film chronicles the evolution of the Black Lives Matter movement via the first person accounts of local activists, protesters, scholars, journalists and celebrities including Jesse Williams, Nelly, Deray McKesson, Michaela Angela Davis, Wesley Lowery, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Johnetta Elzie, Brittany Packnett and others.
“I’m personally inspired by the people that construct today’s movement and we so easily forget that movements are not magic, they are led by people, often making great sacrifice. I wanted to lift up not only their voices but their experiences, and catalog this place and time. The movement for Black lives is claiming its place in history by building the future it knows we damn well deserve.” said executive producer Williams. “We can make progress with gratitude, all the while demanding more of ourselves and humanity.”
Stephen Hill, President of Programming, BET Networks, adds: “While there is no easy answer on how to address or solve the systemic issues of race and justice across our nation, we have a commitment to bringing these conversations and stories of social change to light through platforms like our ‘Truth Series’. BET is determined to encourage meaningful dialogue that galvanizes change.”
The film is part of BET’s “The Truth Series,” which features original documentary films, directed by award-winning filmmakers that showcase stories about the African American experience. It was launched in July 2015.
Previous films in the series include “ALI: The People’s Champ,” and “Katrina 10 Years Later: Through Hell and High Water,” was awarded the 2016 NAMIC Vision Award for best documentary film.
Join the conversation on social media by using hashtag: #StayWokeBET.
Trailer below:
