Documentary takes a look at Black Lives Matter Movement

This past week, BET aired the Documentary Stay Woke as apart their Truth series to tell the story of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Documentary Stay Woke

Dubbed the new civil rights movement, the hour documentary highlights the many Black Lives Matter protesters and how the movement has grown since its early beginnings in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting.

The documentary chronicles the evolution of the Black Lives Matter movement through 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.

Social justice

Stay Woke is a term used in reference to tell people to always be socially conscious and aware of their surroundings, particularly pertaining the African American community. Today the phrase is widely used to bring awareness about systemic racism as well as to educate white people who are unaware, or as they would say, “nto woke”, about the social realities.

Statement on documentary Stay Woke

“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 Jesse Williams, “We can make progress with gratitude, all the while demanding more of ourselves and humanity.”

“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.” said Stephen Hill, President of Programming, BET Networks.