Watch In Prison My Whole Life

In Prison My Whole Life is a 2007 documentary film that explores the life and legal case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a journalist and political activist who has spent over thirty years in prison in Pennsylvania for the murder of a police officer. Directed by Marc Evans, the film features interviews with Abu-Jamal and his supporters, as well as renowned activists and scholars such as Yasiin Bey (also known as Mos Def) and Noam Chomsky, who offer insight into the racial, political, and social context of Abu-Jamal's prosecution and imprisonment.

The film takes its title from a statement made by Abu-Jamal in a 1995 interview with filmmaker John Edginton, in which he describes the experience of growing up in a world where racism and injustice were pervasive, and how those forces ultimately led him to become a political activist and journalist. Through a series of interviews, archival footage, and reenactments, In Prison My Whole Life traces Abu-Jamal's life from his childhood in Philadelphia to his arrest and trial for the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981, and his subsequent decades-long struggle to gain his freedom.

One of the central themes of the film is the question of Abu-Jamal's guilt or innocence in the murder of Faulkner. While the film does not purport to exonerate Abu-Jamal, it does raise serious questions about the fairness and impartiality of his trial and the role of racial bias in his prosecution. Through interviews with legal experts and eyewitnesses, the film argues that Abu-Jamal's trial was marred by police misconduct, prosecutorial misconduct, and other forms of institutional racism that made it impossible for him to receive a fair trial.

Another key theme of the film is the role that Abu-Jamal's case has played in the larger struggle for social justice and civil rights in the United States. Throughout the film, Abu-Jamal's case is juxtaposed with other historic legal battles, such as the Montgomery bus boycott and the struggle for desegregation in schools, highlighting the ways in which his case has become a symbol of the ongoing struggles for equality and civil rights in the United States.

In addition to exploring Abu-Jamal's case and the broader political and social context in which it arose, In Prison My Whole Life also offers a deeply personal portrait of Abu-Jamal himself. Through interviews with family members and interviews conducted from prison, the film provides insight into the psyche of a man who has spent more than thirty years behind bars. We see Abu-Jamal as a devoted father and grandfather, a passionate writer and activist, and a man who has come to terms with the sacrifices he has made in the name of his beliefs.

Ultimately, In Prison My Whole Life is a powerful and compelling documentary that offers a nuanced and thought-provoking perspective on one of the most controversial legal cases in recent history. It is a film that challenges viewers to reconsider their assumptions about justice, racism, and the ways in which the legal system can be used as a tool of oppression, even in a supposedly free and democratic society. Through its exploration of Abu-Jamal's case and the broader social and political issues it raises, In Prison My Whole Life is a film that is both timely and timeless, a testament to the enduring power of political activism and the human spirit in the face of adversity.