The series you want to see after When They See Us

For convenience, I will assume that you have either When They See Us already seen it or that you have read about it. There is almost no other option, as everyone is talking about the series. And rightly so, I must say. If you haven't started it yet: do it. It's impressive. Once you're done with When They See Us, I have another tip for you. In the same category, so indeed not a cheerful watch, but at least just as impressive.

I'm talking about Time: The Kalief Browder Story. It was released in 2017, but with the new media attention for When They See Us, this mini-series is back in the spotlight, telling the story of an unjust conviction of a colored American who was still a minor. It all happened very recently: Kalief Browder was arrested in 2010. He was accused of stealing a backpack, but he never confessed. The backpack was never found, and the whole theft story turned out to be questionable.

Kalief Browder was only sixteen years old when he was convicted in the state New York; he received three years. Three. Years. For a backpack theft that you didn't even commit, for which there is no evidence, based on eyewitness testimony. Kalief spent over 700 days in solitary confinement because that was the safest option for him, as he was abused by staff and fellow inmates.

In 2013, Bowder was released, went to Community College, and filed a lawsuit against the state of New York to clear his name. He said about his time in prison: ‘I feel like I was robbed of my happiness.’ And unfortunately, he never found that happiness again. After several suicide attempts, his mother found him in 2015 after he had hanged himself. So, so sad. Just like with When They See Us, it's bizarre to see how twisted the American justice system is and how carelessly they handle human lives.

Let's hope that the arrival of these documentaries and series brings about some change. It is at least good news that Linda Fairstein and Elizabeth Lederer (from When They See Us) have been removed from their positions and have stepped down from various committees. But yes, that is of course a very small beginning.

Time: The Kalief Browder Story has six episodes and is available in its entirety on Netflix. It goes without saying that watching all six in a row is not advisable for your mental state. I have at least taken some breaks.