The star of the award-winning film Clemency talks about the US prison system, her enslaved great-grandfather and her hopes for Black Lives Matter
Read Mark Kermode’s five-star review of Clemency
The focus of Black Lives Matter protests has inevitably fallen on the most visible injustice - instances of police brutality. More systemic racial disparities in the American penal system are too often hidden from plain sight. The US incarcerates more of its citizens – 2.2 million people – than any other country on Earth. African American adults are nearly six times more likely to receive a prison sentence than white adults. Nearly half of the 206,000 people serving life sentences in 2018 were black, though black people represent only 13.4% of the population; almost equal numbers of white and black prisoners are currently on death row – just over 1,000 of each ethnicity – but as the prosecution of capital punishment has declined, so the racial imbalance has increased.
Read Mark Kermode’s five-star review of Clemency
The focus of Black Lives Matter protests has inevitably fallen on the most visible injustice - instances of police brutality. More systemic racial disparities in the American penal system are too often hidden from plain sight. The US incarcerates more of its citizens – 2.2 million people – than any other country on Earth. African American adults are nearly six times more likely to receive a prison sentence than white adults. Nearly half of the 206,000 people serving life sentences in 2018 were black, though black people represent only 13.4% of the population; almost equal numbers of white and black prisoners are currently on death row – just over 1,000 of each ethnicity – but as the prosecution of capital punishment has declined, so the racial imbalance has increased.
- 7/19/2020
- by Tim Adams
- The Guardian - Film News
Similar News
Kinds Of Kindness | First trailer emerges for Yorgos Lanthimos’ next film
- 3/27/2024
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room ‘A gruelling, gutsy suspense ride’ gets Limited Edition 4K Uhd/Blu-ray Box set release on 18th March 2024
- 3/8/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Studiocanal’s official podcast, with Simon Brew and guests: all 21 episodes to date
- 2/26/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
‘Origin’ Social Media Account Calls Out Distributor Neon for Not Inviting Director Ava DuVernay to Oscar Party
- 3/12/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Alfre Woodard Joins Apple Drama Series ‘Last Frontier’ (Exclusive)
- 2/27/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
‘Clemency’ & ‘The 40-Year-Old Version’ DoP Eric Branco To Make Directorial Debut With ‘Silent Partner’
- 1/29/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ Prequel ‘Apartment 7A’ Starring Julia Garner to Premiere on Paramount+ This Fall
- 4/26/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Box Office: Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ Makes $1.9 Million in Previews
- 4/26/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - Film News
Lily Gladstone and Bowen Yang to Star in ‘The Wedding Banquet’ Remake From Director Andrew Ahn (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Jennifer Aniston to Produce ‘9 to 5’ Reimagining for 20th Century Studios
- 4/25/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
New Harry Potter Audiobook Series in the Works With 100-Plus Actors
- 4/25/2024
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ Prequel ‘Apartment 7A’ Starring Julia Garner to Premiere on Paramount+ This Fall
- 4/26/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
‘One Tree Hill’ Star Sophia Bush Confirms Relationship With Ashlyn Harris: “My Sexuality Exists on a Spectrum”
- 4/26/2024
- by Zoe G Phillips
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jensen Ackles Joins Justin Hartley in ‘Tracker’ at CBS
- 4/25/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Anne Hathaway Says ‘The Princess Diaries 3’ Development ‘Is in a Good Place,’ but ‘There’s Nothing to Announce Yet’
- 4/25/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
Kid Cudi Cancels Tour Due to Broken Foot After Jumping Off Coachella Stage
- 4/25/2024
- by Lexy Perez and Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bella Ramsey, Louis Partridge, Ruby Stokes to Star in Coming-of-Age Comedy ‘Sunny Dancer’ From Rising Brit Director George Jaques (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
Chris Jericho’s Wrestling Action Horror Film ‘Dark Match’ Sales to Be Launched at Cannes Market by Blue Finch (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety - Film News
Michael Cera Christmas Movie Boarded by Magnify Ahead of Cannes’ Directors Fortnight Premiere (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety - Film News
‘Expats’ Star Ruby Ruiz to Lead James J. Robinson’s Directorial Debut ‘First Light’ (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
‘Goodbye Julia,’ ‘Four Daughters’ Lead Critics Awards for Arab Films Nominations Ahead of Cannes Ceremony
- 4/25/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety - Film News
‘Rosemary’s Baby’ Prequel ‘Apartment 7A’ Starring Julia Garner to Premiere on Paramount+ This Fall
- 4/26/2024
- by Jack Dunn
- Variety - Film News
Box Office: Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ Makes $1.9 Million in Previews
- 4/26/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - Film News
Anne Hathaway Says ‘The Princess Diaries 3’ Development ‘Is in a Good Place,’ but ‘There’s Nothing to Announce Yet’
- 4/25/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety - Film News
‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ Producer Bill Kong Aims to Reset Martial Arts Genre With ‘The Furious,’ Directed by Tanigaki Kenji (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Bella Ramsey, Louis Partridge, Ruby Stokes to Star in Coming-of-Age Comedy ‘Sunny Dancer’ From Rising Brit Director George Jaques (Exclusive)
- 4/25/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety - Film News
Jensen Ackles Joins Justin Hartley in ‘Tracker’ at CBS
- 4/25/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Peabody Awards 2024: ‘Fellow Travelers,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ ‘The Bear,’ and More Are Nominated
- 4/25/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
‘The Equalizer’ Grabs Season 5 Renewal at CBS
- 4/25/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Beef,’ ‘A Small Light,’ ‘Heartstopper’ Among 2024 Television Academy Honors Recipients
- 4/25/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety - TV News
Dan Rather Returning to CBS News For First Time Since Bitter Exit 18 Years Ago
- 4/25/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News