This movie highlights a very important issue in the United States of how racism can still influence improper convictions in court cases. In fact, the Central Park Five were also in the era where DNA testing was still becoming a device that was starting to be used in law enforcement. As a result of DNA testing, many criminals were exonerated that had served prison in vain for too many years. My reactions to viewing the movie the Central Park Five reminded me of an era where race was still a barrier even after country had survived the Civil Rights Era. That being said, I do think the film did highlight an important aspect of the American Justice System in that the judge did end up overturning the false convictions and granting these individuals a pardon, which shows how America tries to make amends when she has made a mistake, even if it is truly years later.
When discussing what the police officers did in error during the investigation, they used race to guide who they were accusing of the crime, (“Central Park Five,” 2016). For example, in the United States, the New York Police Department is known for being one of the most racist police departments in the country. What these officers did is what still happens all over the country today. The police tend to have a suspect that is a “black male,” (“Central Park Five,” 2016). This fact is irrefutable. Many blacks who are picked up are innocent and are stereotyped if they are standing on the wrong corner at the wrong time in New York City. This is what I believe that the police officers did in this investigation. They let race outweigh other viable circumstantial evidence against these people, (“Central Park Five,” 2016). For this sort of error and the atrocities that were suffered for these individuals as a result, I am of the belief that one should follow the method of punishment pertaining to “an eye for an eye.” These officers should serve jail time for their errors that cost these individuals their freedoms unjustly for almost a decade.
Politics absolutely played a role in this case in that politics are not in favor of minorities in this country, particularly in New York City. This is a harsh reality but it is the truth in the America that we live in today. Thus, it is no surprise that politics surely had a hand in making the evidence falsely linked to these individuals so that someone would be guilty of these horrific crimes regardless if they were in fact guilty for those corresponding crimes.
Pertaining to the settlement that the Central Park Five received, they did not get released until 2002, when they were imprisoned in 1989, (Dargis, Manhola, 2012). Arguably, I am elated they received a settlement; however, I really think the state of New York could have done something sooner to free these individuals who were falsely imprisoned. That being said, America also does not want to admit she is wrong even when she should. This is why settlements in these sort of cases take way longer than they ought to at times.
All in all, the Central Park Five was a very enjoyable film to watch. Even though the subject matter was painful, it was necessary to learn about how the police officers wrongly convicted those individuals in order to promote progress. America has to eliminate the race barrier if we are to move forward. We have one of the most racist countries in the world; which is ironic given that we actually had the fewest amount of slaves in the slave trade in comparison to countries such as Brazil that do not have the same racial issues. Thus, America needs to learn from the Central Park Five so that we cannot make those mistakes again and move forward as a country.
Works Cited
“Central Park Five.” PBS. 2016. Web. 13 April 2016.
Dargis, Manohola. “Filmmakers Still Seek Lessons From a Case That Rocked a City.” The New York Times. 21 November 2012. Web. 13 April 2016.
