1980 MIAMI RIOTS | WHEN LIBERTY BURNS

Cinemavixion Review

Dudley Alexis's "1980 Miami Riots | When Liberty Burns" offers a poignant and necessary examination of a pivotal moment in American history. Forty years on, this documentary revisits the tragic death of Arthur Lee McDuffie at the hands of Miami-Dade police, a catalyst for widespread unrest. The film skillfully weaves together historical context, exploring the pervasive influence of the Jim Crow era on Miami's infrastructure and social fabric, with the immediate aftermath of McDuffie's killing. Alexis’s direction ensures that the narrative is both informative and emotionally resonant, giving voice to the systemic injustices that fueled the riots. It serves as a vital reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and the importance of understanding the past to inform the present.