Why Do Cops Hate this Phone? | Decoded | MTV News

Introducing the ic50: a brand new cell phone that’s perfect for families of color. If you run into police brutality, planting of false evidence, we’ve got you covered, even if institutional oppression doesn’t!

Sketch Comedy by MTV Decoded with Franchesca Ramsey
MTV Decoded is a weekly series on MTV News where the fearless Franchesca Ramsey tackles race, pop culture, and other uncomfortable things, in funny and thought-provoking ways.

Written by Franchesca Ramsey, Ryan Hunter, Jordan Temple, and Alice Roth
Produced by Kornhaber Brown
Edited by Sam Jacobson
DP: Eric Brouse
AD: Frank Cosgriff
Gaffer: Steve Latta
Set Designer: Emmeline Wilks-Dupoise
Hair & Makeup: Monae Everett
PA: Bryan Lundahl

Starring:
Clerk: Franchesca Ramsey
Father: Laurie Folkes
Mother: Traci Swain
Son: Dean Acree
Cop 1: Josh Daniels
Cop 2: James A Pierce III
White Clerk: Matt Rogers

Discuss your thoughts in the comments! Franchesca will be back next week to respond!

More from MTV News:

[MirandaAdriaYT]

Amazing how a sketch can be brutally honest, hilarious, and goddamn depressing all at the same time. Brilliant.

[Caramellow]

I love how she has that stereotypical peppy tone and smile like all cell commercials while talking about something so real and serious.

[dfatoumaaz]

I love that they put a black officer, because most of the time they contribute and/or watch silently

[chescaleigh]

(I posted this on Tumblr, but it's worth repeating) So I realize that people are either going to love or hate this week’s episode given the subject matter, but it’s meant to make you uncomfortable. No, there’s nothing funny about police brutality, but our goal was to use humor to confront the issue head on. Cell phones aren’t just cell phones anymore. What they capture can literally be a matter of life and death. The fact is, police officers too often see black people as these overblown stereotypes rather than seeing us as people, and the best way we could illustrate that was to do so by being completely ridiculous. I mean, we have cops out here doing BARREL ROLLS on neighborhood calls as if they’re in an action flick! Granted, we filmed this last week so there’s no way we could’ve known that McKinney would happen, but I think the ending with the “Rambo” style costume and white associate is pretty poignant given the circumstances. 

When I make content I want people to laugh but I also want them to think. And while this is a comedy sketch, the truth is it’s not that far off from reality. That’s the problem. And that’s what I hope people take away from the piece and continue to talk about. But I also realize that not everyone is going to go for this kind of approach and I respect that. At the end of the day, the more voices that are chiming in and making sure this conversation continues, the better. Even if we don’t alway agree when it comes to how to go about it.

[colin]

Love how this is is funny and educational at the same time. Especially when a police officer of color was involved and how the fact that you pointed out the legal right to film cops. I have honestly learned so much about race problems from you than I have in my 6 years of school in America. Keep up the good work Francesca!

[ImNappHappy]

I read some not so cool comments on your Instagram page about this and so I wanted to check it out for myself. I think this is a really cleverly written sketch that is doing it's job, getting people to think twice and talk about "ok what's wrong with this picture...?" Why can't we talk about police brutality on the days that it doesn't seem to make national news? I think this sketch does just that and I'm really glad you posted it! I'm a fan :)

[riotschminke]

I am amazed by how you can do something so amazing, funny, witty and clever out of these devastating times.

[chescaleigh]

when cell phone commercials get too real

[eastcoastchic]

I was actually nervous at the end. I mean great tension building but my heart was actually racing #blacklivesmatter

[lenaphilippe]

This is amazingly done. Like, the arrival of the cops had me going from relaxed to highly tense in a micro-second.
Thank God nothing happened x)

[RaheemDTV]

Wait, this was able to be funny, shady & powerful at the same time. Genius!

Plus Fran is a great actress :)

[GENESE]

This was amazing. I got chills when the cops showed up.

[sophiaz]

I saw this on snapchat and had to come and watch it in better quality. Love it!

[nyssathurisaz]

Comedy is a great vehicle to explore behaviour. This is not saying police brutality is funny but ridiculing those that think it is accepted behaviour.

[HeirOfGlee]

Aww shit, my gurl is doing skits too.

[sillycone]

I'm so glad that this exists, but I wish it didn't have to. I want to simultaneously laugh and cry.

[HaythamThorn]

Is there a button to dislike every video on a channel?

[Juniorfunny]

"all black people are innocent 100% of the time"

ok, sure, that's not true, but ok. just because they're unarmed doesn't mean they're innocent.

[BobTheTrollKing]

That, was one of the most racist things I have ever seen... and I'm a regular patron of the internet.

[GabrielTheMagolorMain]

I love how MTV News is doing these videos, they're a fantastic outlet to create awareness and CHANGE.