40 Years a Prisoner

They want u to feel sorry for these dirtballs lol everyone of them are scumbags.

I was in high school when all of this took place. I remember it all.

It was sad that an officer lost his life but it was also sad how they treated the Africa family. Making babies suffer and killing babies because you don't believe what they believe or agree with their lifestyle. No reason for what happened to happen.

I'm glad to see that the family could finally be back together. 40 years is enough time.

I'm sure more if my home folks will see this and remember like I do.

Just another example of the ongoing war between minorities and law enforcement. No matter which side you are on, the standoff is intense and the fact that Rizzo perpetuated the whole thing says a lot about the government. A must see if you like stories of society clashing with the powers that be. Great music and interviews. I'm surprised at the rating of 6.5

"40 Years a Prisoner" is a powerful, emotional documentary that digs deep into the continuing legacy of the 1978 confrontation between black liberation group MOVE and the Philadelphia police. Weaving archival footage with present-day interviews, the director, Tommy Oliver, makes a finely wrought narrative that underscores the intersections of race, justice, and resilience. It is anchored by the relentless pursuit of justice by Mike Africa Jr., whose quest to free his parents-imprisoned for decades-brings a deep level of personal understanding to the greater political context. Heavy at times, the documentary never becomes inaccessible or alienating. It's an important watch for those who want to understand the complexities of American history and the ongoing struggle for civil rights.

The documentary provides a great deal of information around the group that was known by MOVE and how it started. It is focused NOT on the bombing of the homes they had moved to later in the 1980s.

It leaves its leader or founder much in mystery and I wonder if that was done intentionally but that point isn't important to the primary focus. The focus of this documentary is about 8 people that would be charged and sentenced to prison for 30 to 100 years.

It does a great job of showing how the Mayor at the time wanted to use the Police force as a tool for social change which rarely if ever happens. It also shows how the media had the chance to explore the story in more detail but too many times took the yellow journalism route. There were reporters that did examine the issue more deeply but they were being drowned out. Ultimately it was video taken by some brave reporters that nearly saved the day in the end but just like today even if you see the video and hear the story behind it it might not be enough for real justice. Which is where the documentary also shows the influence of Police Unions protecting officers even when obvious crimes are committed. I don't want to throw in a spoiler but when someone pointed out the hundreds of deaths in a year and over half were unarmed and person said coldly well they might have been armed so they deserved to be shot and killed it showed clearly what the attitude was then and even now.

Also wondering if they had sought religious protections for their group. Knowing this is just one viewpoint overall it has made me curious enough to seek out more information about the history behind the group.