Video: Jay Z Brings the True & Horrific Story of Kalief Browder to the World, In a New Documentary Series

The story of Kalief Browder is burned in our memories forever. The thought of a 16-year-old kid being held in one of the countries toughest prisons, accused of a crime that he didn’t commit, sounds like something out of a made-for-television movie, but this was real life for Browder. You can read more about Kalief’s life in an article we wrote in January, when President Obama decided to ban solitary confinement for teens.

Even though Browder’s case has been discussed in detail in a few documentaries this past year, including the13th documentary on Netflix, directed by Ava Duvernay, Browder’s story will now get the attention it deserves thanks to Jay Z.

The music mogul, along with Jennifer Furst will be releasing a documentary in March 2017 titled, ‘The Kalief Browder Story’, a two-part Documentary Series which will premiere on Spike TV. The series will walk viewers through Browder’s arrest in 2010 at the age of 16, his three year imprisonment without having a conviction, and his release in 2013. Unfortunately, the series will also cover Kalief’s 2015 suicide due to the affects of being imprisoned as an innocent teen.

Since Jay Z landed a movie and television deal with Weinstein Company, he has been committed to telling the story of Browder; he was also one of the many celebrities that got a chance to meet Browder after he was released from prison. Jay had asked his assistant to track Browder down after his release in hopes of meeting Kalief, who was around 19 years old at the time. Jay Z spoke more about his commitment to be a voice using his new television deal:

“We’re the voice. We’re society. We affect change. We can change everything. Our voices are stronger than ever. If everyone in this room is like, ‘I don’t agree with this happening to a 16-year-old,’ then it won’t happen again. It’s that simple.”

The Kalief Browder Story will premiere during the Sundance Film Festival and will debut on television on Spike TV Wednesday, March 1 at 10 p.m. ET.