Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn

2020

1h 40m

Documentary

List

87%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

71%

Audience Score

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Racial tensions come to a boil when an angry mob murders Black teenager Yusuf Hawkins in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 23, 1989. The aftermath of Hawkins' death leads to a social movement as his family and community protesters demand justice.

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Critics Consensus

Storm Over Brooklyn's limited scope may disappoint viewers seeking a comprehensive examination of racial inequity in New York City circa 1989, but this poignant documentary does justice to the memory of Yusuf Hawkins the person.

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

It's the gulf between what people said then and now that resonates throughout this documentary, and the blind spots that continue today.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 17, 2020

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Tambay Obenson

indieWire

[It] likely won't teach much new to those already familiar with his story... But even for the initiated, it could contribute to ongoing discussions on how to dismantle the American racial divide that is deeply entrenched in our national psyche.

Rated: B

Aug 14, 2020

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Melanie McFarland

Salon.com

Voices past and present give Storm Over Brooklyn a piercing relevance in the here and now, whether by what they're saying or what they represent.

Aug 13, 2020

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn could have been a very one-sided documentary, but it took the responsible approach of including diverse viewpoints.

Aug 23, 2020

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Jordan Calhoun

Black Nerd Problems

These different perspectives paint a vivid picture of the Brooklyn of 30 years ago, not very different from the Brooklyn of today.

Aug 21, 2020

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Rosalynn Try-Hane

Liquid Marmalade

Yusuf Hawkins - Storm Over Brooklyn is an emotional and sensitive examination of racial tensions, grief and political point scoring that is ever present today.

Aug 20, 2020

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john m

2020 and these types of things are as alive in society as ever. I never really knew the story on Yusuf, just had heard vaguely about it and knew about Al Sharpton's involvement in the riots and marching. So I'm glad I watched this because it is an extremely well told and emotionally heavy account with just as much relevance today.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Muta'Ali Muhammad

Director

Al Sharpton

Self

David Dinkins

Self

Reverend Conrad Tillard

Self

Jonathan Chinn

Executive Producer

Simon Chinn

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

Racial tensions come to a boil when an angry mob murders Black teenager Yusuf Hawkins in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 23, 1989. The aftermath of Hawkins' death leads to a social movement as his family and community protesters demand justice.

Director: Muta'Ali Muhammad
Producer: Victorious DeCosta, Jevon Frank, Alexandra Moss
Production Co: HBO Documentary Films, Lightbox
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 13, 2020
Runtime: 1h 40m

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