Kalief Browder
| Kalief Browder | |
|---|---|
Photographed by Zach Gross, October 2014
|
|
| Born |
May 25, 1993 Bronx, New York |
| Died | June 6, 2015 (aged 22) Bronx, New York |
| Cause of death | Suicide |
| Alma mater | New Day Academy |
| Occupation | Student |
Kalief Browder (May 25, 1993 – June 6, 2015) was an African American male who was arrested at the age of 16 for allegedly stealing a backpack. He was imprisoned for three years on Rikers Island without trial and spent most of this time in solitary confinement. Two years after his release, Browder died by suicide. His case is cited by activists who call for the reform of the New York City criminal justice system and is the subject of a six-part docuseries on Spike and Netflix entitled TIME: The Kalief Browder Story.
Browder was placed into care at birth by Child Protective Services because of his biological mother's drug addiction. The youngest of seven biological siblings, he was the last of five who were adopted. Including children in foster care, adopted children, and her biological children, Browder's mother had raised thirty-four children by 2015. Despite moving out when Browder was ten years old, Browder's father, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority employee, continued financially contributing to the family. The family resided by the Bronx Zoo in a two-story brick house on Prospect Avenue.
Browder attended the now-closed New Day Academy. During the interview, Browder himself remarked to Jennifer Gonnerman of The New Yorker that his report cards were populated with C's, although he was described by staff members as a "fun guy" who "[they] thought was very smart". His childhood interests included Pokémon, WWE, and visiting the Bronx Zoo. In his teen years, his interests included playing sports and going to the park and to parties.
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