Being an avid watcher of Netflix, I was extremely excited when I saw "American Crime" in the New Arrivals section. From its title, I was under the presumption that it was a "Law and Order" type of police procedural that I could just be superficially entertained by when I needed a break from biology problem sets. However, as I started the first season, "American Crime" was nowhere close to the expectations I had; it had vastly exceeded them. Its unique treatment of the murder-mystery procedural in addition to the topical and relevant commentary of race politics in the US is truly what makes the first season a must-see.
Created by John Ridley, famous for writing the Best Picture Oscar winning "12 Years A Slave," the first season makes the bold and unique decision to focus on the the actions and the family drama within the victims' families and the ones accused of the crime. John Ridley employs a similar technique that Truman Capote used when he wrote "In Cold Blood." In trying to add nuance to the the simple "good and bad" dichotomy, Ridley tries to make the audience empathize for the people who were involved in the murder while he tries to vilify the victims' families (or the emotional victims of the aftermath). In doing this, there is not only an interesting contrast that is weaved into the narrative, but the characters are made to like real human beings rather than caricatures or stereotypes. In this way, we, as an audience, can get invested in the drama and actually care about what is happening.
Perhaps the most striking and admittedly praiseworthy aspect of the first season of "American Crime" is its smart commentary on how racial minorities are fundamentally disadvantaged when they become part of the mass incarceration system. This treatment reminded me of "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," a book written by Dr. Michelle Alexander that I, including other Wesleyan freshmen, were required to read. For example, the accused murderer's sister is determined to prove the racial bias and predisposition in the arrest and treatment of her brother, and this motivation of her mirrors many of the points that Michelle Alexander makes in her book. However, unlike "The New Jim Crow," the show never attempts to persuade the audience of this; instead it weaves these undertones into the subtext of the show to give audiences something to ponder and consider. In fact, I admire John Ridley and the entire team for being brave enough to include a topical yet potentially volatile and preachy (if not done correctly) commentary on deep-rooted racial politics in the mass incarceration system.
For anyone who read Michelle Alexander's book, the first season will be an interesting and relevant adjunct to the arguments that were presented. And for fans of great television, put this season at the top of your queue. It will emotionally move you and get you thinking about an issue that is part of modern American society. Truly binge-worthy, trust me.
