In the film we see three stereotypical stories play out across each other. In the first scenario we see a group of Black teenagers at night joking around in a convenience store. Thugs? Then we cut to a Black pregnant mom waiting at a bus station with her 4-year-old son and newborn baby. Un-wed welfare queen? Finally, we see a 30-year-old Black man driving a Chevy Monte Carlo while blasting music. Criminal? After introducing the 3 stories, actor Mahershala Ali’s VO says: “If you think you know what happens next, ask yourself why?” That’s when these stories unfold and play with the viewer’s racial bias. The teenagers at the store pay for their snacks and leave, the mother gets picked up by her caring husband and lastly the man arrives at her niece’s birthday party with while the VO says: “Let’s widen the screen so we can widen our view.”

Racial inequality permeates the fabric of American life. In 2020 we were forced to confront the nation’s deep rooted racist history after the murder of yet another unarmed Black man, George Floyd, at the hands of the police. Black trauma trended, on the news, in our social feeds –everywhere. These negative images find their way into the content people consume, showing Black life in extremes – thugs, or criminals.

We have been using our platform to discuss race with “The Talk” (2017), “The Look” (2019) and “The Choice” (2020). As the world’s largest advertiser, we recognize that this moment called for a powerful response. We’re committed to moving beyond awareness and into tangible actions. “Widen The Screen” is an expansive platform that will create systemic change by providing more opportunities to Black creators. It will start to counter this narrative by inviting people to widen their view of Black life.