A legacy has been formed thanks to Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black. An initiative to help incarcerated women, named after the highly-rated character Poussey Washington, has been formed ahead of the series’ upcoming final season.
Jenji Kohan, the show’s creator, announced The Poussey Washington Fund on Thursday (July 25) during the seventh season’s New York City premiere, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Supported through Crowd Wise by GoFundMe, it will “support eight preexisting non-profits to benefit organizations focused on social issues surrounding criminal justice and policy reform, immigrants’ rights and helping those affected by mass incarceration.”
Samira Wiley (Poussey Washington) shared the story of The Poussey Washington Fund in a video, stating, “We have seen how Orange Is the New Black has impacted you and people all over the world. We’ve been honored to tell these stories of these characters, and we’ve learned first-hand that the system is failing women, both inside and outside of prison walls.”
During the final 13 episodes of the series, a fictional version of the fund is launched where Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson (Danielle Brooks) works to offer micro-loans to women being released from prison.
In season four, Washington is murdered by a white correctional officer after being restrained during a peaceful demonstration. She was pinned to the ground with the CO’s knee in her back making it difficult to breathe. Her lifeless body laid in the cafeteria for hours.
More than 100 contributors have donated to the cause. You can donate here.