The nexus of racism, justice, and mass incarceration in the US is explored in the Ava DuVernay film 13th, which is based on the thirteenth Amendment. The movie discussed how there were some exceptions to this provision, implying that slavery is not legal until it is used as a punishment for a crime. In this context, the documentary gave me an intriguing viewpoint on how today’s jail and labor systems are comparable to slavery. A Black person can be re-enslaved even though slavery was outlawed for everyone except criminals; DuVernay demonstrates how slavery is still prevalent in cultures today. A similar discrepancy exists in our justice systems, as evidenced by the arrests of African Americans for offenses like loitering. Racial discrimination is a contentious topic discussed in the documentary 13th, and the revelations presented in the film genuinely shocked me, prompting me to seek answers. The most striking realization was that there is an evident bias in criminal justice and a subconscious bias in society.
This movie explains how the prison system’s widespread incarceration represents a backlash against the Civil Rights Movement. The jail system is still racist and violent; moreover, it is changing and not necessarily improving. I was disappointed by how the political establishment defends its position more vehemently when rights protests grow. They use all methods necessary to imprison Black people while creating ridiculous justifications for police brutality. The 13th illustrates the persistence of criminalization in our culture today and the ongoing presence of racism. The documentary’s use of storytelling was particularly noteworthy, as it assisted in bringing to life the realities of the 13th Amendment and slavery’s legacy in Black communities and how they are still clearly evident today.
Ultimately, this approach reeducated American society and threatened White Americans’ beliefs in democracy, justice, and equality. This movie teaches us a lot about history, and it should act as a wake-up call for us in America to reclaim the humanity and rights that have historically been denied. Others could even claim that few people today commit heinous crimes, yet history has a way of influencing the present. Prior to watching this film, I used to wonder why there were so many protests against discrimination when most people did not intend to dehumanize African Americans or prisoners. However, this film made me realize that they still unintentionally do so, especially when the media takes advantage of these Black males. While some claim that African Americans are not breaking any laws and that the American justice system is flawed, others point to African Americans who are involved in gangs, selling crack, and killing people. The latter group, however, forgets that if these African Americans, similarly to people of any other race, had had a proper childhood, they would not be incarcerated for the rest of their lives.
This movie explains a lot about the criminal system’s injustice and public opinion on the matter. I wonder if African Americans were ever entirely free in our nation and if slavery was abolished after watching this movie. The main lesson I learned from this event is that we, the American people, are the only group large enough to bring about change; neither politicians nor the government has the power to do it. In the hopes that White American culture will become more humane sooner rather than later, this documentary informs, inspires, and challenges the legacies of the Thirteenth Amendment. I was able to better comprehend particular concerns after watching the video. I now have a deeper understanding of how the stereotype about African American men in prison was formed, and I feel sorry and partially guilty for not realizing it before. Therefore, I will be more sympathetic and understanding if a client confides to me that they are concerned about their safety or the safety of a loved one in their neighborhood.