With the Black Lives Matter movement encouraging education in racial injustice, it’s vital that our self-education continues to grow.
And while said education includes recent cases such as Breonna Taylor and George Floyd‘s tragic deaths, older cases of racial injustice also deserve a second look.
Including the case of Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old who was tragically killed while buying orange juice in 1991. And a new Netflix documentary, A Love Song For Latasha is just that—an ode to a sweet, loving and selfless teenager who wanted to make the world a better place.
Created by Sophia Nahli Allison, the 20-minute documentary is a must-watch for those looking to broaden their education in historic prevalence of racial injustice.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about the documentary, from the story to where you can stream it in Australia.
What Is The Story Behind A Love Song For Latasha?
Taking place in Los Angeles in 1991, 15-year-old Latasha Harlins was a smart, ambitious girl who loved basketball, earned straight A’s at school, and wanted to be a lawyer and business owner. Tragically, she was killed on the morning of March 16, 1991 from a fatal gunshot wound to the head, after being accused of trying to steal a $1.79 bottle of orange juice.
Security camera footage, and witnesses of Harlin’s murder, proved that Harlin had made no attempt to steal the orange juice, and had approached the counter with two dollars in her hand to pay for it when she was attacked by the store owner. No justice was served for Harlin’s murder and the event was a major contributing factor in the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
While the documentary does discuss Harlins’ death, A Love Song for Latasha mainly follows her life. The film offers a heartbreaking portrait of a beautiful soul, painted by those who loved her.
Check out the trailer below to hear more about her story.
WATCH BELOW: A Love Song For Latasha Trailer
Who Made A Love Song For Latasha?
The documentary was created by director and Los Angeles native Sophia Nahli Allison, who told Esquire, “I wanted to rebuild this history and this archive for Harlins’, because there are a lot of L.A. natives that still don’t really know who she is.”
And in order to do so, Allison enlisted Harlins’ cousin Shinese Harlins and best friend Tybie O’Bard, who narrate the film with their memories of Latasha Harlins.
Where To Watch A Love Song For Latasha In Australia
Interested? You can watch A Love Song For Latasha on Netflix in Australia.
