When We Rise is More Than a Compelling Drama; It is a Call to Action

When we Rise, an abc original television event inspired by the stories of real families fighting for social justice in America, could not come at a more fitting time given the current political and social landscape.

Penned by Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk), and directed (Parts 1 & 2) by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk), When we Rise begins with Cleve Jones (Guy Pearce) recalling his path to involvement in the gay rights movement starting with coming out to his psychiatrist father (David Hyde Pierce), who believes homosexuality to be an illness which can be treated with electroshock therapy and lobotomies, leading to Cleve’s move to San Francisco. Followed by a constant search for the right place to call home amidst his struggle to find acceptance, when a friend finally helps him realize the only way to find it is to create it; to affect change themselves right where they are. Thus inciting the call to rise up and fight for the freedom to be who they are without persecution.

As night 1 unfolds we are given a glimpse into the beginnings of not only the gay rights movement, but also the civil rights and women’s rights movements and it becomes increasingly clear that they are all one.

As young Cleve (Austin P. Mckenzie) says to young Roma (Emily Skeggs), a member of the National Organization for Women struggling with her own sexuality, upon meeting in a laundry mat where she is putting up flyers for a women’s rights rally:

“All the same to me. Same struggle, same fight.”

When we Rise delicately illuminates the prejudices that exist within each movement. The National Organization for Women dismissing several leading members for “making the democratic party uncomfortable with their lifestyle choices”, the gay bar that at first seems to be a long sought-after refuge for Ken (an excellent portrayal of silent strength and suffering by Jonathan Majors), a sailor who is forced to hide his love (and grief) for fellow Navy man Michael, but is quickly revealed to be yet another opponent, forcing him out for being black.

By the end of the night Cleve, Roma, and Ken are brought together at the Black Cat Café, where mama Jose shares a simple, oft-forgotten, yet powerful secret:

“Us vs. Them is an illusion. All of you combined, locked arm-in-arm, are stronger than you know."

When we Rise is more than a compelling drama; it is a call to action. To re-ignite the idealism of our youth when we believed in the power of our voices. We must bravely face down our own prejudices and come together to be the change we wish to see now more than ever.