In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers were arrested and charged with brutally attacking and raping a white female jogger in Central Park. News media swarmed the case, calling them a “wolfpack.” The five would spend years in prison for a crime they didn’t commit before the truth about what really happened became clear. With THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE, this story of injustice finally gets the attention it deserves. Based on Sarah Burns’ riveting book and co-directed by her husband David McMahon and father, the acclaimed doc filmmaker Ken Burns, this incendiary film tells the riveting tale of innocent young men scapegoated for a heinous crime, and serves as a mirror for our times.
As part of our annual Diversity Film Series, a small group from the Elizabethtown College community revisited this layered tragedy. Students live-tweeted the documentary using the hashtag #etowncpf. Twitter proved a great way to capture our immediate responses to the events before us.
How far have we come from 1989? What are the proxy wars of 2015? #etowncpf
— Richard Newton (@seedpods) February 24, 2015
What do the “the two New Yorks” look lie? Is it black and white, or is it more complicated? #etowncpf
— Richard Newton (@seedpods) February 24, 2015
Have you seen yourself or been told you are part of an endangered species? What ‘s up with that? #etowncpf — Richard Newton (@seedpods) February 24, 2015
What facts do we selectively draw on to support the narratives on which we depend and live into? At what costs? #etowncpf — Richard Newton (@seedpods) February 24, 2015
The ableism, racism, sexism, and classism we’ve seen in this case are proof positive of the need for intersectional analysis. #etowncpf — Richard Newton (@seedpods) February 24, 2015
How would security tactics and strategies change were we to presume innocence vs guilt? #etowncpf — Richard Newton (@seedpods) February 24, 2015
“The truth, reality, and justice were not a part of it.” Very true quote from the beginning. #etowncpf — Amelia Schaeffer (@AmeliaCats) February 24, 2015
#etownCPF this kid is about to have a breakdown and yet they’re willing to accept his statement as not being forced? I’m actually nauseous. — Genni Piatt (@jazzigen95) February 24, 2015
#etownCPF yes let’s test the system by mass incarceration of our black youth THAT’LL WORK
— Genni Piatt (@jazzigen95) February 24, 2015
“Wolfpacks” is a part of the historic Western lexicon for dehumanizing black people. (cf. ape, beast, buck) #etowncpf
— Richard Newton (@seedpods) February 24, 2015
Do not buy the North v. South trope. The use of “hanged” is a telling appeal to the “good ol’ days.” #etowncpf — Richard Newton (@seedpods) February 24, 2015
#etowncpf when the criminal feels worse than the police about the wrong people getting charged — Amelia Schaeffer (@AmeliaCats) February 24, 2015
–Jessie Hornburger, ’15
The Central Park Five is not an easy film to watch, nor does it prompt fun conversations. I will say that our viewing led to a thought-proking evening where students on every side of hot-button issues shared their piece peacefully. Clearly 1989 could have used a little more of that. 2015 could as well.
Richard Newton, PhD is curator of Sowing the Seed and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Elizabethtown College. His scholarship focuses on the anthropology of scriptures.
Sowing the Seed 