Political correctness is an important concept that has taken over society as of late. Some view this as “oversensitivity”, but many others see it as the long-overdue acceptance of even the most oppressed individuals. In an attempt to get up-to-speed with the growing tolerance of individuality in our country, the media has begun to produce content that is more diverse and inclusive. A great example of a progressive television show that has gained massive popularity recently is Netflix’s original series, "Orange is the New Black". Note: there will be spoilers.
The show presents a variety of issues, including (but not limited to) homophobia and transphobia, racial prejudice, corruptness of incarceration facilities, mental illnesses and their stigmas, drug addiction, and police brutality.
The newest season of the show focuses specifically on corruption within the United States government and the prevalence of police brutality, mainly associated with racial prejudice. With the introduction of a new set of prison guards under the ruling of Desi Piscatella, the audience sees just how the combination of power and fear contribute to less-than-ethical tactics in police forces. Examples include unnecessary frisking, intimidation, and severe punishment (such as forcing inmate Blanca Flores to stand on a table for days until she agrees to comply with the staff’s rules). The tension builds up throughout the season until, during one of the final episodes, a young and inexperienced guard tackles an inmate and causes her to suffocate.
There are various interpretations of this last season’s climax, but a common theory is that Poussey Washington’s death is supposed to be commentary on the recent movement of Black Lives Matter. The young woman was a lesbian, black, and most importantly, not at all threatening. This fact is what made her death that much more unnecessary; a common argument for those supporting police is that police only kill in an effort to defend themselves. It is clear in this case that Officer Bayley used much more force than necessary, and the question is whether this was due to racial prejudice, acting upon robotic, violent movements ingrained in him during police training, or a combination of the two. Regardless, the death is shocking and heartbreaking, especially since Washington is a favorite character of much of the show’s audience. Reactions varied from sadness to outrage, and it is easy to understand why.
This show is one of the few shows that has the intellectual guts to make such a move—it is not easy to make references to such poignant and debated matters such as Black Lives Matter in the media without expecting a lot of criticism. Although some argue that Poussey’s death didn’t need to happen, others say that it was necessary because it is accurate—it reflects a real problem that occurs today, much more often than we would like to admit.
Additionally, the final scene of the season finale is worth considering—will Daya shoot the gun? The fact that the gun was there in the first place is a sign that ethics have been abandoned a long time ago. Seeing the inmate in a position of power instead of the guards is an incredible image that will be remembered for a long time, and the writers probably wanted to end the show on this concept because they knew that it would cause viewers to really think about what was happening in the real world. Why is it so outlandish of a concept that inmates should have some say in their lives? Perhaps this is a statement not just about criminals, but about real people in the real world, stuck in a trapped position just like the inmates, simply because of their race, religion, sexuality, or economic status. Daya symbolizes the movement as we see it today—fighting back for rights that should have been present a long time ago.
"Orange Is The New Black" is a show that is realistic from beginning to end, and it is worth taking a look at why things unfold the way they do—not only in the series, but in real life. Anyone willing to give this show a shot is bound to be inspired to make a difference.
