or


[07/15/20 - 08:00 AM]
"Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn" Debuts August 12, Exclusively on HBO
The film, directed by Muta'Ali Muhammad, tells the story of Yusuf Hawkins, a black teenager who was murdered in 1989 by a group of young white men in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

[via press release from HBO]

YUSUF HAWKINS: STORM OVER BROOKLYN Debuts August 12, Exclusively On HBO

YUSUF HAWKINS: STORM OVER BROOKLYN, directed by Muta'Ali Muhammad ("Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee") and debuting WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12 (9:00-10:40 p.m. ET/PT), tells the story of Yusuf Hawkins, a black teenager who was murdered in 1989 by a group of young white men in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Yusuf Hawkins' death and the official response to it sparked outrage in New York, unleashing a torrent of racial tension and spurring tireless civil rights activism that exposed deep racial prejudices and inequities which continue to plague the country today.

This film will be available on HBO and to stream on HBO Max.

Over 30 years later, New Yorkers, including Yusuf's family and friends, reflect on the tragedy and the subsequent fight for justice that inspired and divided New York City. The film utilizes archival footage and photos, witness statements, news footage, in addition to candid interviews with Yusuf's mother, Diane; brothers, Freddy and Amir; cousins, Darlene and Felicia Brown; and friend Christopher Graham and the two friends with him during the attack, Luther Sylvester and Bensonhurst native Russell Gibbons. The documentary also includes interviews with Defense Attorney Stephen Murphy; Joseph Fama, who was convicted of the crime; Reverend Al Sharpton, who became the family's spokesperson; Assistant District Attorney Douglas Nadjari; activist Dr. Lenora Fulani; and former Mayor David Dinkins.

On August 23, 1989, sixteen-year-old East New York-native Yusuf Hawkins and three of his friends made a trip to the predominantly Italian-American neighborhood of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn to view a used car his friend was hoping to buy. Unknowingly, the teenagers emerged from the subway station into a racially charged scene. A group of white young men had already gathered there, intent on harassing a group of black guys rumored to be dating girls in their neighborhood. Yusuf and his friends were quickly surrounded by the crowd of white attackers wielding baseball bats. In the midst of the attack, Yusuf was shot to death.

Devastated by the senseless murder and seeking answers, the Hawkins family was shocked when police asked them to stay silent in order to prevent civil unrest. However, the press caught wind of the story two days later and the family was met with Yusuf's face on the front page of the newspaper. Yusuf's father, Moses, reached out to activist Reverend Al Sharpton, who became the family's spokesperson and co-organized a series of marches in the Bensonhurst neighborhood where Yusuf was killed. Throughout the protests in the year following Yusuf's murder, activists, protestors and Yusuf's family were met with intense racist vitriol from residents.

Though a handful of young men were arrested in connection with Yusuf's murder, the suspected shooter, Joseph Fama, remained at large before eventually turning himself in. As the marches for justice continued, the tensions reached a fever pitch when Sharpton was stabbed before a protest in January 1991. Still, Yusuf's brother Amir maintains that the protests were crucial in making the community's voices heard, proving that "There's always strength in numbers."

A harrowing account of an immutable part of the city's history, and of a family coping with profound grief deepened by injustice, YUSUF HAWKINS: STORM OVER BROOKLYN details how the senseless murder that shook the foundation of the city shed light on deep racial divisions and inequity. Yusuf's death and the demands of his family and community had political ramifications that contributed to the ousting of New York Mayor Ed Koch in favor of David Dinkins, the city's first and only black Mayor.

"It's important to remember Yusuf Hawkins, honor his life and be mindful that our martyrs have families who need our love long after the marching subsides," states Muta'Ali Muhammad. "This film ties together the past and the present showing how racism can rear its head anywhere, even in a liberal city."

A deeply emotional film with chilling resonance in today's America, YUSUF HAWKINS: STORM OVER BROOKLYN, explores the 30-year legacy of Yusuf's murder as his family and friends reflect on the tragedy and the subsequent fight for justice that inspired and divided New York City.

Today, a mural dedicated to Yusuf has been erected in Brooklyn, a sign that for his community, and many more, Yusuf Hawkins' life will never be forgotten.

The film, selected from more than 300 submissions, is the winning project of the inaugural Feature Documentary Initiative created by the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and academy award winning production company, Lightbox, as part of their partnership to foster diversity in the feature documentary arena. The program is open to all African American documentary filmmakers and any documentary filmmakers interested in exploring nonfiction stories that speak directly to the Black experience.

YUSUF HAWKINS: STORM OVER BROOKLYN is directed by Muta'Ali Muhammad; producers Jevon Frank, Victorious De Costa and Muta'Ali Muhammad; co-producer Melanie Share; executive producers Jonathan Chinn, Simon Chinn, Jeff Friday, Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin. For HBO: executive producers Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Jacqueline Glover; supervising producer, Greg Rhem.





  [july 2020]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[09/08/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "Crime Scene Zero" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Mind games, shocking truths, and unpredictable twists will put your crime-solving instincts to the test.

[09/08/25 - 02:45 PM]
The "2025 MTV Video Music Awards" Delivers Its Largest Television Audience Since 2019, Up +42% from Last Year
The telecast was seen by more than 5.5 million viewers on the CBS Television Network, simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+.

[09/08/25 - 12:04 PM]
"NBC Fall Preview Presented by Access Hollywood" Premieres Tuesday, Sept. 16
Jimmy Fallon, Mariska Hargitay, Reba McEntire, Snoop Dogg, David Alan Grier, Zachary Quinto, Oscar Nuñez, Mike Tirico, Reggie Miller and many more share exclusive behind-the-scenes insights and their thoughts on NBC's must-see sports and television programming.

[09/08/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Announces New Coming-of-Age Teen Drama, "Crew Girl," with Production Starting in September
The series will be produced by Thunderbird Entertainment's scripted and unscripted live action division, Great Pacific Media.

[09/08/25 - 11:01 AM]
Leanne Morgan Comedy Series "Leanne" Renewed for Season 2 on Netflix
The multi-camera comedy debuted on Netflix's Global Top 10 and has received rave reviews by the critics.

[09/08/25 - 10:15 AM]
CBS Announces Fall Season Premiere Dates for #1 Daytime Lineup
The network continues to stand as the highest-rated network in daytime for 39 consecutive seasons.

[09/08/25 - 09:40 AM]
Cowboys-Eagles on NBC & Peacock Is 2nd Most-Watched NFL Kickoff Game
The exciting back-and-forth put the Eagles ahead 21-20 at halftime and averaged 34.3 million viewers on NBC and Peacock from 9:30-9:45 p.m. ET (late second quarter) - marking the largest peak audience ever for an NFL Kickoff Game.

[09/08/25 - 09:18 AM]
ABC News Studios Announces Network Premiere of "Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything," Produced by Imagine Documentaries
The documentary celebrated its world premiere at a sold-out theater at the 2025 Tribeca Festival before premiering on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ in select international territories.

[09/08/25 - 09:14 AM]
New Special "Bully Hunter" Premieres Tuesday, September 23 at 10pm ET/PT on A&E
The special digs into the complex and disturbing world of cyberbullying, where torment is relentless and victims are desperate for relief.

[09/08/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Dr. Seuss's Horton!" New Series Trailer - Netflix Jr
Horton follows the exciting and whimsical adventures of a young Horton and his best bud Samson as they go on adventures to help the citizens of the Jungle of Nool.

[09/08/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Man in My Basement" - Official Trailer - Hulu
When a mysterious man (Willem Dafoe) approaches Charles Blakey (Corey Hawkins) to rent his basement for a generous sum, Blakey is drawn into a chilling reality involving his own family's hidden history in Nadia Latif's adaptation of Walter Mosley's novel.

[09/08/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: She's Ready to Slay! "Vampirina: Teenage Vampire" Official Trailer and Poster Revealed
The music-driven series premieres on Disney Channel September 12, with all episodes streaming October 15 on Disney+ and Disney Channel On Demand.

[09/08/25 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Series "The Chair Company," Starring Tim Robinson, Debuts October 12
After an embarrassing incident at work, a man (Robinson) finds himself investigating a far-reaching conspiracy.

[09/08/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Maigret" Official Teaser
Don't miss the thrilling new series starring Benjamin Wainwright, premiering on Sunday, October 5 at 9:00/8:00c on PBS.

[09/08/25 - 08:00 AM]
"Star Trek" Boldly Goes Into Its 60th Year with Fan-Centric Anniversary Celebrations Throughout 2026
Launching today is "Star Trek: Scouts," a brand-new, original animated YouTube-first series that marks the first preschool extension of the "Star Trek" franchise.