Team ROC, the social justice and philanthropic arm of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation agency, has been heavily involved in uncovering the inhumane treatment of inmates inside the Mississippi State Penitentiary (aka Parchman Farm).
Back in 2020, Roc Nation founder Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and fellow Hip Hop mogul Mario “Yo Gotti” Mims worked with attorneys and medical experts to present evidence of Parchman Farm’s unsanitary living situations.
Two years later, Jay-Z and Yo Gotti’s advocacy led to a Department of Justice investigation Mississippi State Penitentiary. A DOJ report suggested the facility’s conditions violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Roc Nation partnered with the A&E Network, ITV America’s Good Caper Content, and Red Summer TV to produce a documentary about Mississippi’s oldest prison. Parchman: The Truth is Out will air on June 17 at 8 pm ET/PT on A&E.
Jay-Z, Yo Gotti & More Appear In The Parchman: The Truth is Out Doc
“The accounts of the individuals incarcerated at Parchman and their desperate family members are heartbreaking. There are so many untold stories like this that have a profound impact on American culture, communities, and families,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for A&E.
Bryant continues, “Shining a light on human rights atrocities and the need for reform has been a cornerstone of the A&E brand and we hope Parchman: The Truth is Out brings awareness to the public and sparks much-needed change to the American prison and justice system.”
Parchman: The Truth is Out Included are interviews with Jay-Z. Yo Gotti. Congressman Bennie. Tamika. Mallory. And Rukia. Lumumba. Rahman Ali Bugg’s film features the family members of men who are currently and were previously incarcerated, as well as other prison reform advocates and the legal team which led the lawsuit.
Parchman: The Truth is Out The Tribeca Festival Will Premiere the Film
“The incarcerated population in Parchman and their loved ones have experienced immeasurable pain and suffering, so we felt a responsibility to help them share their stories with the compassion and consideration that it deserves,” said Desiree Perez, CEO of Roc Nation.
Perez also added, “Our hope is that this documentary will educate the public about these torturous injustices, hold the leaders in Mississippi accountable for fostering unconstitutional and inhumane conditions in Parchman, and create swift and comprehensive change to eradicate the state’s depravity in this prison and disregard for the criminal justice system.”
Before airing on A&E, Parchman: The Truth is Out The premiere of the 2023 Tribeca Festival New York City, June 14, 2014. The legal team and Roc Nation executives are behind the subjects. The documentary will be part of a panel discussion after the screening.
