The Central Park Five

 

📍 Key Figure Today:

One member of the Five, Yusef Salaam, is currently a member of the New York City Council representing Harlem.

 

Dr. Yusef Salaam, one of the “Exonerated Five” (formerly known as the Central Park Five), has transitioned from a victim of a wrongful conviction to a powerful voice for justice, serving as a New York City Councilman since January 2024.

Following the 2019 release of Ava DuVernay’s Netflix series When They See Us, which documented their harrowing experience, Salaam has focused on using his platform for advocacy, healing, and fostering hope.

 

Key Aspects of Life After When They See Us (as of 2026):

Political Office and Advocacy: Salaam won the Democratic primary in a landslide for the New York City Council seat in Harlem’s 9th District in 2023, officially taking office in January 2024.

He uses this position to fight for housing justice, economic justice, and public safety.

 

“Better, Not Bitter” Philosophy: Salaam published his memoir, Better, Not Bitter: The Power of Hope and Living on Purpose (2021), focusing on forgiveness and turning personal pain into a force for change.Criminal Justice Reform: He is a board member of the Innocence Project, advocating against police brutality, mass incarceration, and juvenile injustice.

 

Healing and Purpose: Salaam has emphasized the importance of mental health and overcoming trauma, often advising youth to find their purpose and not be defined by the labels placed on them.

Recognition: In 2016, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama.

Reflecting on his journey, Salaam noted that the attention from the Netflix series helped “take back our story” after 30 years of it being controlled by others. He frequently highlights the need for continued, systemic change to prevent similar injustices, particularly for Black and Latino youth.

Biography

 

QUOTES from The 5

Antron McCray –  “I preach to my kids, ‘Just tell the truth. Be true to who you are.’ Honestly, the last time I lied, got me seven-and-a-half years for something I didn’t do.”

Korey Wise – “Our youth was stolen from us.”

Raymond Santana – “We were just kids. People don’t realize really how young we were… They took it all from us.”

Yusef Salaam – “If you’re Black or Brown, you are guilty and have to prove yourself innocent.”  

Kevin Richardson – “I felt like a newborn baby after I was released.”  

 

 

 

NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED
[Educational Purposes Only]
© Dale Ricardo Shields 2026

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iforcolor

ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is highly accomplished African American actor, director, producer, and educator with a distinguished career in theatre and academia.

Here's a summary of his background and achievements:

Early Life and Family:
Born on November 4, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio.
His family has a strong musical background; his grandfather and father were founding members of the Shields Brothers Gospel Quartet of Ohio, and his mother was part of the Turner Gospel Singers.
He is a cousin of boxing promoter Don King.
Education:
Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1970.
Holds both a BFA (1975) and MFA (1995) from Ohio University.

Career and Contributions
Theatre Professional:
Actor: Has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and in regional productions. His television credits include The Cosby Show, Another World, Guiding Light, Saturday Night Live, and the ITV series Special Needs. He has also appeared in commercials and films.
Director and Stage Manager: Has extensive professional credits in these roles, including projects at Lincoln Center, The Henry Street Settlement House (New Federal Theatre), The Negro Ensemble Company, and The Joseph Papp Public Theatre.
Assistant Director: Served as assistant to Lloyd Richards and assistant director for the New Federal Theatre premiere of Ossie Davis's play A Last Dance With Sybil starring Ruby Dee and Earl Hyman.

Educator:
Professor: He is a Professor of Acting, Directing, Black Theatre, Black Studies, and Stage Management. He has taught at various institutions, including Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University (as artist-in-residence), and SUNY Potsdam.
Workshops and Programs: Conducted workshops for Joseph Papp's Playwriting in the Schools Program (PITS) at The Public Theatre for six seasons and represented the United States at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England, in 1988.
Artistic Activist and Historian:

Iforcolor.org: Creator and archivist for the Black History website Iforcolor.org, dedicated to preserving and sharing information about African Americans and artists of color. He also maintains the "Black Theatre/African American Voices" website on Facebook.
Project1VOICE Liaison: Serves as the Project1VOICE Liaison for the state of Ohio, directing "One Play One Day" events in Cleveland since 2011.

Awards and Recognition:
The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award: Recipient in 2017.
Paul Robeson Award: Recipient in 2021 (jointly presented by the Actors' Equity Association and Actors' Equity Foundation).
AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award: Received in 2017.
Tony Award Nominee: Nominated for the "Excellence in Theatre Education Award" in 2015 and 2017.
Ebony Bobcat Network (EBN) Legend Award: Received from Ohio University in 2022.
ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund: Received in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Outstanding Professor Awards: Has received two of these and three "Educational Program of the Year" awards as a university professor.
The HistoryMakers archives: Interviewed and included in The HistoryMakers archives, permanently housed in the Library of Congress.
Dale Ricardo Shields is recognized for his profound impact on the lives of his students and his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Black theatre history and culture.