| Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Laurens Grant[1] |
| Starring | Jesse Williams Alicia Garza Patrisse Cullors DeRay Mckesson Johnetta Elzie Darnell L. Moore Michaela Angela Davis Brittany Packnett |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Original release | |
| Network | BET |
| Release | May 26, 2016 |
Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement is a 2016 American television documentary film starring Jesse Williams about the Black Lives Matter movement, and the events that led to the uprising of the movement.[1][2] The phrase "stay woke" refers to a continuing awareness of issues concerning social justice and racial justice and came to widespread use as a result of Black Lives Matter.[3][4] The "Stay Woke" documentary gives a deeper understanding to how the movement came to be and what the movement believes.[5]
The film opens up with sharing the voice recording of the night that Trayvon Martin was killed by George Zimmerman.[5] The documentary shows how the #blacklivesmatter hashtag came into effect on social media and how the movement rose up.[5] In the documentary, other incidents where injustice was shown is displayed throughout the film.[5] The "Stay Woke" documentary shows the cry for justice as a result of several instances of police brutality.[5] "Stay Woke" digs deep into the movement of Black Lives Matter and everything that this movement represents.[5]
The Black Lives Matter movement started in 2013 after the uproar over the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. The movement started out with the goal of connecting African-Americans who share a similar battle with racism and injustice. Black Lives Matter frequently holds protests centered around issues such as police brutality, racial inequality, and racial profiling.
