“I never saw it that way,” one guest said to another as they left a private screening for the Ferguson documentary “Whose Streets?”
His reaction was what co-directors Damon Davis and Sabaah Folayan had to have hoped for when they came together to create the documentary that opens in major cities across the U.S. this Friday. After a successful film festival run – including a critically acclaimed presentation at the Sundance Film Festival – the national release will come just two days after the three-year anniversary of when the death of unarmed teen Michael Brown sparked unyielding protests in Ferguson.
Through “Whose Streets?” a powerful counter-narrative to the misconceptions about Ferguson is introduced to the mainstream conversation.
As the story of the Ferguson unrest was told, stereotypes and implicit bias were imposed upon the protesters – much like the experience of area residents who saw Brown’s death as a “now or never” moment to shed light on the broken relationship between law enforcement and the black community.
Three years later, many still haven’t grasped the fact that looters and protesters are not interchangeable terms – or that the incidents of rioting and property damage were simultaneous and not in concert with, or endorsed by, the vast majority of peaceful demonstrations that were the core of what we now refer to as simply Ferguson.
Over the course of the film, “Whose Streets?” dispels the myths perpetuated through one-dimensional coverage often provided by the mainstream.
Footage from social media and citizen journalists are blended into the film to add context to the experience of being on the ground in heat of the unrest. Mirroring the Ferguson movement, “Whose Streets?” begins with social media posts that give a play-by-play of what compelled the masses to galvanize in Canfield Green Apartments while the body of Brown – who was killed by former Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, was still lying in the middle of the street where he was shot down – and would remain for hours.
While it serves as the introduction, the film doesn’t focus so much on the events leading up to the months of relentless protest. Instead, “Whose Streets?” offers touching portraits of the individuals who have chosen to dedicate themselves to the cause.
Brittany Ferrell, Tef Poe, Alexis Templeton and David Whitt are among the subjects that are featured in “Whose Streets?” Ferrell, Templeton and Whitt allow Davis and Folayan inside their homes and routines and discuss in great detail why having an active role in the movement was so important for them, their families and futures – as well as the cost that came with them doing the work.
“Whose Streets?” also gives another vantage point from Ferguson by way of a bird’s-eye view from the middle of the movement in real-time.
The film gives glimpses into the property damage that came in the initial days of the protests and again after the non-indictment of Darren Wilson. But it also showed incidents where unruly law enforcement targeted and antagonized peaceful protesters by pointing weapons at them, wearing “I Am Darren Wilson” bracelets and mocking them in public settings. Certain scenes illustrated how recklessness from the officers and the anxiety that comes with being confronted with actions often reserved for war zones by those claiming to keep the peace fueled rage.
Through “Whose Streets?” audiences will have a new appreciation for the protesters when they see the sacrifices that were made in the name of keeping Ferguson conversation in the forefront by way of activism.
“Whose Streets?” opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, August 11. The film is rated R with a running time of 100 minutes.
