Jay-Z Scores Peabody Award For “TIME: The Kalief Browder Story”
by Karen
In an busy week for achievements in Hip-Hop with Drake’s #1 replacing #1 and Kendrick Lamar’s history making Pulitzer win, Jay-Z joins the fray by collecting a Peabody Award for his work with the Kalief Browder documentary. One of only 9 winners in the documentary series category and was described by the jurors as a “powerful miniseries illuminating the greatest flaws of our criminal justice system through the tragic events and death of a young African-American who spent three years on Rikers Island without being convicted of a crime.”
Jay-Z brings the Carters to a total of two Peabody Awards following last year’s win by Beyoncé for LEMONADE which was recognized as a poetic film.
Since 1941 The Peabody Awards exist to recognize when storytelling is done well in electronic media; when stories that matter. These are stories that engage viewers as citizens as well as consumers. By recognizing specific programming, the Peabody Awards spotlight instances of how electronic media can teach, expand our horizons, defend the public interest, or encourage empathy with others. Such excellent stories exist across genres and media types, and across regions and borders.
Watch the original press conference for TIME: The Kalief Browder Story when Jay-Z announced the project and made some emotional remarks about criminal justice reform.