Prison Drama Hidden Secret in a Medieval Style Setting

*“Rikers: An American Jail”* is a powerful documentary co-produced by *Five Mualimm-ak**, a formerly incarcerated activist and filmmaker, in collaboration with the legendary journalist **Bill Moyers**. The film premiered in **2016* and is one of the first major documentaries to center the **firsthand voices of people who were jailed at Rikers Island**, one of the most infamous detention centers in the United States.

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🎥 *About the Film*

*Title:* Rikers: An American Jail
*Year:* 2016
*Producers:* Bill Moyers, Five Mualimm-ak, and team
*Platform:* Originally aired on public television (PBS/Moyers & Company)
*Runtime:* \~60 minutes

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🔑 *Synopsis*

The film features interviews with more than a dozen *formerly incarcerated people**, including **Five Mualimm-ak* himself, who courageously share their personal experiences at Rikers Island. The documentary **does not include interviews with officials or law enforcement**, making it a rare and raw portrayal focused entirely on the voices of survivors.

The film paints a haunting picture of:

*Abuse by correctional officers*
*Overuse of solitary confinement*
*Mental health deterioration*
*Systemic racism*
*Trauma from pre-trial detention* (many were never convicted but couldn’t afford bail)

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✊🏽 *Five Mualimm-ak’s Role*

**Co-Producer & Featured Subject**: Five appears in the film recounting the devastating psychological effects of solitary confinement and the broader violence within Rikers.
*Human Rights Focus**: He helped shape the film’s narrative to reflect the **structural cruelty of mass incarceration* and the **urgent need for reform**, particularly around solitary confinement and pre-trial jailing.
**Credible Messenger**: His activism and insights gave the film deeper authenticity, connecting it to the larger movement to close Rikers and end solitary.

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🧠 *Themes & Impact*

**Mass Incarceration**: The film critiques how jails like Rikers are part of a broader carceral system that punishes poverty and race.
**Psychological Harm**: The stories reveal how Rikers traumatizes those inside, especially youth and those in solitary.
**Urgency for Reform**: The film was released during a time of growing national conversation around justice reform, and contributed significantly to advocacy efforts.

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📣 *Critical Acclaim & Influence*

Screened at universities, legislative events, and advocacy gatherings nationwide.
Used by the *#CLOSErikers campaign* and other reform movements as an educational tool.
Praised for its *raw emotional power* and **ethical storytelling**, with The New York Times and PBS lauding its focus on human dignity.

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🕊️ *Legacy*

Rikers: An American Jail stands as a seminal work in the fight to close Rikers Island and reform U.S. jails. It gave a platform to voices often silenced and helped mobilize lawmakers, educators, and the public to see incarceration through a human rights lens.

www.incarceratednationnetwork.com