“Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement” documentary premiered on BET Thursday night and it was incredibly moving. The hour-long special walked viewers through the birth and growth of the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag-turned-movement, ultimately posing the question, “what’s next?”.

The accounts of activists, protestors and supporters transported viewers back to the moments when the lives of Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray and others were tragically lost to actions stemming from systemic racism in our country.

The film also delved into how the #BlackLivesMatter movement was able to transcend state lines and re-emerge in new cities during the moments when it was needed the most. Despite being condemned by activists from the Civil Rights Movement such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, BLM is the movement that the social media age needed to mobilize.

As the story unfolded, Twitter relived every second.

how/where did you first hear or see the name Michael Brown? For me, it was on Instagram, the video of Lezley McSpadden sobbing #StayWokeBET

— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) May 27, 2016

Overwhelming Emotions flooded people’s hearts.

Watching #staywokeBET with tears in my eyes. We must constantly remember and fight against injustice. It can’t just become another headline.

— Sarah Jakes Roberts (@SJakesRoberts) May 27, 2016

#StayWokeBET is striking so many emotions!

— Kerline K. Jules (@KerlineKJules) May 27, 2016

#StayWokeBET I’m already mad all over again

— Miss Ramirez (@DaeAndNight) May 27, 2016

Activists and protestors recalled being on the streets.

Still thankful to the brave in #ArabSpring for teaching us that milk-not water-was hot you handle tear gas. #StayWokeBET

— Brittany Packnett☔️ (@MsPackyetti) May 27, 2016

The tweets/footage from Ferguson are triggering. Got damn. Like we really lived this shit. #StayWokeBET

— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) May 27, 2016

And the reality that this is more than a moment, greater than just protests, started to settle in.

#StayWokeBET is making it more real that we are living in history.

— Amanda✨ (@Amanda_Learning) May 27, 2016

What happened on August 9, 2014 will forever be engraved into my mind. Rest in peace Michael Brown, we will never forget you. #StayWokeBET

— Κιάιrα ♡ (@BlvckConscious) May 27, 2016

The discussion continued but not without praises raining in for BET.

It’s already 8:23! I hate that this is only for an hour! But this is some serious progression for @BET #StayWokeBET

— Boy Ray (@co11dname_gq) May 27, 2016

If you’re not watching #StayWokeBET you’re sleeping. It’s informative, engaging, and thorough. Keep the conversation going

— Nekita Dovae (@NDHuling) May 27, 2016

#StayWoke.

staywoke

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