Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
YouTube special explores racial injustice, calls for action.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Bear Witness, Take Action
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
BEAR WITNESS, TAKE ACTION is a YouTube original social event that discusses racial injustice in hopes of inspiring people to take action. The presentation, which originally livestreamed 20 days after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, features hosts Keke Palmer and rapper Common introducing a range of guests, video presentations, and artistic performances. Journalists Soledad O'Brien, Jamele Hill, and Roland S. Martin moderate panel discussions with a range of Black activists, social media celebrities, and former athletes to discuss issues like police brutality, White silence and responsibility, defunding police, and systemic racism. Singers Trey Songz and John Legend perform, and actor Sterling K. Brown, Bryan Stevenson (the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative), and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki also make appearances. The deaths of Black individuals like Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, and many others resulting from racial injustice are discussed and honored.
Is It Any Good?
This interesting and important special YouTube event features members of the Black community speaking out about the racial injustice committed against African Americans and deconstructing why it happens. From panels with experts like Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza to spoken word poetry presentations, it offers a unified narrative about what the problems are and what needs to be done. It also calls on White America to understand their privilege, and to use it to eradicate the systemic racism that continues to allow this injustice to continue. But much of Bear Witness, Take Action is designed to inspire people to go beyond simply reacting to racism on social media, and instead take proactive steps to ensure that people and institutions are held accountable for their racist behaviors. Only then can America start to heal and finally bring about change.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what racial injustice means. Why are Black people often treated differently than other people in the United States? What solutions does Bear Witness, Take Action offer to change this?
What does "systemic racism" mean? What about "acknowledging White privilege"? Parents can talk to kids about some of these issues to raise awareness and tap other media resources to help navigate the conversation.
What are some things you could do on a personal level to help enact change? How can you help your community rise above systemic racism?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 13, 2020
- Cast : Common , Keke Palmer , Soledad O'Brien
- Network : YouTube
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Activism
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance
- TV rating : NR
- Last updated : November 9, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
What to Watch Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate