If you haven’t by now seen Brick City on Sundance Channel at 8p.m. on Sundays, you should and here’s why:

In the news this week, on the one hand, we see attempts at union busting in states like Wisconsin, the Libyan people suffering under brutal oppression, and on the other hand Charlie Sheen and his goddesses preening on every news channel. The albeit saddening but trite latter news theme finds its way on even the most “sane” of cable shows. I recently saw one show host urge viewers that watching Sheen’s recent rant was actually meaningful to watch.

The host noted, while intently focusing in on the viewers at home, that the Sheen debacle could happen to anyone in “our” family. This implied the view that watching a wealthy star struggle with his addiction in almost an embarrassing fashion should “teach” us something about the nature of addiction and should even serve to humble and lead one to contemplation about life and the potential possibility of addiction in our own families. This extremely delusional thinking permeates much of our attitudes about reality television. I know some teenagers who urge that watching shows like Jersey Shore help to make one feel smarter and better about themselves. To this I often ask, “How about watching something that actually makes you smarter?” Yet, I know that we are drawn to the the juicy and the taboo. In many regards, it is normal human behavior to find attraction to these topics. However, it is dangerous when the media bombards us with these stories, shaping the narrative, attempting to bend us into treating these kinds of non-news stories as actually having a meaningful purpose. We need more television like Brick City that can help us to see that the

(MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)

trite is truly trite and help us to make significant meaning of our world. We need more shows that compel us to consider that our communities and our collective future requires contemplation, truthful storytelling, and honest imagery. Then, we can begin to tease out the implications of news worthy events like region sweeping revolutions and public policy.

Brick City the series began last year, and if you don’t know much about it, followed Corey Booker after he won the bid for mayor in Newark, New Jersey. In Season 1, Booker (elected in 2006) appears as a fresh young face riding the winds of change spun nationally with the election of Barack Obama as Obama led the Democratic Party to a strong winBooker (elected in 2006) appears as a fresh young face riding the same winds of change spun nationally with the election of Barack Obama as Senator of Illinois among others leading eventually to Obama’s presidential election.. In that historical moment of change, our global imagination changed not only in the way we thought about politics but also transformed our understanding of race. In this context, it was difficult to separate Booker’s energy from that of Obama’s.

This season is much different. Booker faces the local and specific challenge of a recession and the ensuing local budget cuts required to weather the city’s economic storm. He no longer  serves just as a symbol for hope and change. We get to watch him defend his positions and make difficult decisions that many of his constituents aren’t always happy about. There are various other interconnected stories and characters that make the city of Newark hum like a live and energetic organism, thriving at times, and then at other moments crashing into disappointment, allowing viewers to appreciate that real policy and community change comes from strain and often times surrender and not a nameless and unseen wind.

There is Garry McCarthy, the newly appointed Police Director of Newark who rarely smiles (he’s pretty intense) taking us into the realm of city politics, where the outsider (he’s a New Yorker) is often not welcomed.

Jayda and Creep with their family Courtesy: http://www.sundancechannel.com/brick-city/photos/

Then there is Jayda along with her partner Creep, gang members from opposing gangs that fell in love now fighting to make a home for their children and demons from their past. Jayda, in my mind, is the best and most authentic representation of black womanhood on television right now. She is beautiful, strained, independent, human. She runs a non-profit for  young girls motivating them to stay focused on a goal and tries to inspire them to remove the large barriers that lay in front of them. She understands their struggles as she has had her own run-ins with the law among other stressful life events. Finally, there is Jiwe, a gang member and peace advocate who last season wrote a book about his life as an active gang member. This season, the book’s truths catch up with him as he faces legal charges based somewhat on the events described in his book. His story is extremely compelling as he is now faced with the consequences of his truth-telling from his personal and provocative book. His lawyer, is the husky voiced and legally sharp attorney, Brooke Barnett who is a compelling advocate for justice.

Jiwe and attorney, Brooke Courtesy: http://www.sundancechannel.com/brick-city/photos/

With the depiction of these full and distinct stories comes the narrative of the city. This is not your “wealth gone wrong show” chock full of decadence and jet-setting. The decay of the city presents as seemingly nothing beautiful. Yet, this truthful depiction makes the harsh reality of the city vibrate. The story moves in and around town from the church leaders social, to a Latino street parade all with the blaring sounds of the city. There are tense and terse public meetings, mundane budget committees, kitchen table conversations. This is the real city, filled with promise and potential, haunted by mistakes but aching for change. There are many places across the globe that in many ways mirror the people and place of Newark. In the midst of this depiction come the themes of atonement, suffering, and triumph. This is authentic and not “reality” T.V. We should watch and empathize and grow along with this city and these characters. Our collective souls would do well to take note of this inclusive and honest series.