On April 12, 2015, Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man was arrested for the legal possession of a knife. His arrest was captured on video by a local cop watch member who posted the video to social media. Freddie languished in a trauma center for five days before succumbing to a traumatic spinal injury sustained during the arrest. On the 21st, three days later, thousands of Baltimore locals gathered in protest of Gray’s death. Baltimore police responded by inflaming racial tensions, saying the legal and peaceful demonstration resembled ‘a lynch mob’ during a press conference.
On the 25th, in an attempt to stifle legal—and up until then peaceful—public outcry, the police shut down the city’s main bus terminal. This decision left hundreds stranded and surrounded by police in riot gear. The ensuing violence has come to be known as the Uprising, and many experts and locals argue the Uprising never stopped. Lights of Baltimore seeks to use history, art, and interviews to better understand the events which led to the Uprising.
The use of archival footage alongside expert and eyewitness interviews makes Lights of Baltimore an incredibly accessible documentary. There are many -and sometimes contradictory- points of view exhibited in this film. I would argue that the general political neutrality of this documentary weakens many examinations of Baltimore’s historical and current racism made in this documentary. It doesn’t make sense to give grieving and traumatized Baltimore natives’ narratives the same time and attention as police officers complaining that locals are seeking accountability for a cold-blooded murder. The lack of empathy from the representatives of Baltimore’s police forces is evident to the attentive viewer.
Still, these contradictions and hypocrisies often aren’t pointed out clearly: The unlawful and blatantly racist killing of a young man isn’t righted nor is a broken system repaired by lofty ideals like ‘justice’ and ‘sustainability’ being etched into sidewalks near police departments. However, the information on display and the various perspectives included in Lights of Baltimore make it an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning about police brutality, racial discrimination, or the 2015 Baltimore Uprising. This documentary includes dozens of experts, Baltimore locals, and eyewitness testimonies to the killing of Freddie Gray and the Uprising. Recommended.
Where does this documentary belong on public or academic library shelves?
Lights of Baltimore belongs on documentary shelves. It would fit well in film collections about police brutality, contemporary politics, and civil rights.
What kind of instructor could use this title?
Professors of criminal justice, contemporary history, and African American studies will have the most interest in Lights of Baltimore.
What is the retail price and/or Public Performance License fee?
Limited PPR included w/purchase of film.
K-12 Classrooms, Public Libraries DVD: $89
K-12 Classrooms, Public Libraries: DVD + Digital File: $139
Colleges, Institutions, Businesses DVD: $345
Colleges DVD with Digital Site License: $495