The Central Park Five

LINKS

 

 

 

https://abcnews.com/US/case-settled-1989-central-park-jogger-believes-person/story?
id=63077131
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https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2016/10/07/reality-check-donald-trump-and-central-park-5/https://grist.org/cities/how-our-fear-of-wilding-colored-the-central-park-five-case/
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https://www.britannica.com/topic/Central-Park-Fivehttps://pix11.com/news/central-park-five-netflix-
series-when-they-see-us-premieres-at-the-apollo/
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https://www.oxygen.com/martinis-murder/who-was-
actually-guilty-rape-central-park-jogger-matias-reyes
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https://www.newsweek.com/who-matias-reyes-serial-rapist-murderer-central-park-five-series-when-they-see-us-1442045
https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2022/12/19/central-park-entry-gate-commemorates-the-exonerated-five/
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https://www.npr.org/2024/09/11/nx-s1-5108632/central-park-five-trump-debate
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https://www.oxygen.com/martinis-murder/who-was-actually-guilty-rape-central-park-jogger-matias-reyes
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https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/exonerated-five-dr-yusef-salaam-punching-the-air
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https://www.kpbs.org/news/arts-culture/2013/04/15/central-park-five
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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48563756
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https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/see-us-sparked-boycott-against-212100914.html
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https://hiphopwired.com/2674828/judge-rules-in-favor-of-central-park-5-against-donald-trump/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRTv9FleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkUkFZbXdZTWpGRDBMSTNtc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHl2wdPHjPrKBqOBq0no6elgwg4gQeHJgLtxTuCksIk2egzsRXv7F9GkUPdAo_aem_z6HN6IZEGpwDKnPf2MEgAA
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https://innocenceproject.org/news/from-injustice-to-influence-the-enduring-legacy-of-the-exonerated-five/
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https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2019/06/06/central-park-5-black-press/
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusef_Salaam

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BOOKS: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                            

The primary, most comprehensive text is “The Central Park Five: A Chronicle of a City Wilding” by Sarah Burns. Sarah Burns’ book is highly recommended for understanding the full context, including the media’s role in creating a “city wilding” narrative.

Key Books

The Central Park Five: A Chronicle of a City Wilding by Sarah Burns (2011): This is the definitive account, examining how race, media, and police coerced confessions from five teenagers. It was the basis for the documentary of the same name.

Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice by Yusef Salaam (2021): A memoir by one of the exonerated five, focusing on his life after wrongful conviction and his work as an activist.

Unequal Verdicts: The Central Park Jogger Trials by Timothy Sullivan (1992): An earlier look into the trials and the legal proceedings.

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Related Reading
I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility by Trisha Meili(2003): A memoir by the victim in the case.

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson (referenced via Innocence Project context): While not exclusively about the Five, it is a crucial text on the systemic issues of wrongful convictions.

 

 

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

Pages:

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.