You could consider me an avid TV show watcher. I’ve watched a plethora of shows over my high school/college years, including (but not limited to) “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Prison Break,” “How I Met Your Mother,” etc. With that said, I am a sucker for shows that get me emotional. I used to judge a show on whether or not it could make me cry. Whether it was out of happiness or sadness, it didn’t matter. If it could make me feel, it must be good.
About fifteen minutes ago, I finished the current season of Orange is the New Black. Instead of being left with tears, I have found myself left with chills, and I am completely speechless. I can’t even put into words how powerful this show ending was. It is honestly quite scary how hand in hand the timing went with the “Black Lives Matter” movement taking place in society currently. I am so impressed with the show’s ability to portray such a serious topic in a meaningful and effective way.
What I love about Orange is the New Black is its ability to humanize every member of society. My favorite part about each episode is when they show the backstory of each of the inmates--emphasizing that before they committed their crime, they lived their own lives, with their own families, jobs, friends, homes, etc. They are clearly not perfect, but the majority of them are not monsters. People make mistakes, but that doesn’t dehumanize them. Criminals are humans too, and deserve to be treated like humans.
But I believe that this show’s attempt in humanizing criminals goes way past prisons. Even in day to day life, there is WAY too much hate. The amount of hatred in the world today is sickening, whether it be towards homosexuals, blacks, Jews, Muslims or anyone. We are all human! We all have lives that are worth just as much as the person standing next to you. Hatred and judgement will continue to cause the violence that is currently taking place throughout the world. Not one person is more entitled to living a safe and healthy life than any other person.
