Understanding the social determinants of health, health equity, and social justice from a social ecological perspective is vital for public health students. This paper provides an example of a creative method for teaching health disparities, using the HBO television series "The Wire." Methods: The pedagogical strength of "The Wire" for public health courses is presented, a framework for using this media text in the classroom is shared, and implications for classroom instruction are explored. Conclusions: "The Wire" is an innovative and effective teaching tool for teaching health disparities and engaging the next generation of public health educators.