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13TH Documentary Review

  • I found the introduction to the documentary interesting using quotes visually the film hooks you in well, and it starts out with a compelling quote from the 44th President Barack Obama. Stating that “ The U.S. is comprised of 5% of the world’s population but holds 25% of the world's prisoners,” emphasizing the stark contrast between the nation’s ideals and its reality, this is supposed to be the land of the free, right?

  • Cinematically, this documentary, so far in the introduction, uses several shots well, and the music emphasizes a serious tone, which is relevant here as it covers a serious issue, like the shots and like the music.

  • Noticed one interviewer who is directly lined up with the rule of thirds and not directily in the center which could come off as confrontational and disoreinting not someting youd want in a documentary or an interview so i like tha he’s lined up in that way

  • Overall, the visual composition and sound design work together to enhance the viewer's engagement and provoke thought, creating a dynamic viewing experience that challenges the audience to reflect on the systemic issues presented. As the introduction progresses, it becomes clear that the documentary not only aims to inform but also to spark a conversation around the injustices woven into the fabric of American society.

  • They mentioned the 13th Amendment and its loophole. The amendment grants freedom to all Americans, but there’s one major exception, which is prisoners, which allows for the continued exploitation of incarcerated individuals, effectively perpetuating a cycle of systemic racism and inequality.

  • Focusing on the narrative structure of the film, it’s way too early to give an complete critque of it since theres still things i don’t know yet but as of right now i feel like the film did a great job of introducing it’s central theme of the documentary explicitly stating that this loophole from the 13th admendment that slavery is illegal except as a form of punishiment for criminals has ultimately created a system where to this day it’s being exploited and upheld by various institutions and practices within our justice system, making the viewer acutely aware of the implications this has on marginalized communities.

  • The film first dives into how African Americans, even after being freed by the 13th amendment, were often charged for minor petty crimes and right back into slavery, like nothing ever changed. Then, with the emergence of anti black propaganda and films like Birth of a Nation depicting blacks as criminals and savages, the narrative surrounding African Americans began to shift even further, and led to the creation of the KKK and the emergence of open terrorist and heinous acts like the murder of Emmett Till and public lynchings. Soon after once acts like those became more looked down upon, the legal and social systems responded by finding new ways to perpetuate racial oppression, such as the establishment of Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation and disenfranchisement, ultimately creating a new era of systemic racism that continued to marginalize African Americans under the guise of it being “legal” and “separate but equal". Civil rights activists, as a result, saw this as a cause to build movements and mobilize communities to challenge these injustices, striving for equality and the dismantling of oppressive systems that had been legalized. This led to significant events such as the Civil Rights Movement, where leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks emerged, advocating for change and raising awareness on the issue of racial inequality.

  • Very, very powerful B-Roll footage, especially during the civil rights era portion of the film, but really all throughout

  • The documentary effectively utilizes this archival footage to convey the emotional weight and urgency of the civil rights struggle, making the historical context feel immediate and relevant. Moreover, the testimonies from various activists help to personalize the narrative, showcasing the resilience and determination of those who fought for justice.

  • One of the positives of the civil rights movement was the view of criminality because, for the first time, it was viewed as a noble thing rather than a mere act of defiance, illuminating the systemic inequalities that criminalized African Americans and highlighting their fight against oppressive social structures.

  • The Civil Rights Act finally admitted that even though we emancipated the enslaved individuals, systemic racism and inequality persisted, necessitating strong legal frameworks to protect their rights and dignity.

  • The documentary then transitions into the war on crime section, focusing on how policies disproportionately targeted African American communities, reinforcing the narrative of criminality as a tool of oppression rather than a reflection of individual behavior.

  • Regan and Nixon ushered in a new era of governance focused on law and order, which led to the implementation of policies that further criminalized poverty and reinforced racial stereotypes, contributing to mass incarceration and the dismantling of many civil rights gains achieved in the previous decades.

  • The period saw a significant rise in incarcerated people, and the war on drugs and crime targeted communities of color, further entrenching social and economic disparities that continue to affect these populations today.

  • The media spouted out news that led people to believe that black men and black people in general are criminals and super predators

  • Bush won the election by creating fear around black men and positioning himself as the candidate who would restore safety and security, thereby perpetuating harmful stereotypes that continued to influence public perception and policy.

  • Policies put in place by Bill Clinton, 3 strikes, etc, forced families to be broken apart, resulted in mass incarceration, and disproportionately impacted African American and Latino families, leading to generational cycles of poverty and disenfranchisement.'

  • Dr King wasn’t considered a popular figure he was considered a dangerous man by the FBI., You can’t talk about black history in America without referencing the FBI and the criminal justice system, but you can for white history

  • Fred Hampton was a prominent leader in the Black Panther Party, advocating for racial equality and social justice, and his assassination by the FBI exemplifies the lengths to which the government went to suppress voices of dissent within the African American community. So afraid of a leader who could unite people

  • Assata Shakur, Angela Davis, and other influential activists faced similar suppression, as their powerful messages challenged the status quo and threatened the systemic injustices rooted in American society.

  • ALEC and ALEC on the other hand, represent organizations that have sought to shape legislation in ways that reinforce systemic inequalities, highlighting the ongoing battle against policies designed to control and suppress the voices of marginalized communities.

  • Through ALEC, CCA had a hand in the creation of laws that disproportionately affect low-income and minority populations, further entrenching the barriers these communities face in their struggles for justice and equality.

  • ALEC pushed forward policies that exacerbated the criminalization of poverty and expanded the prison-industrial complex, serving the interests of corporations over the rights and dignity of individuals.

  • Laws like the stand your ground law that was used in the George Zimmerman trial illustrate how these frameworks not only perpetuate violence but also disproportionately target people of color, perpetuating a cycle of fear and injustice.

  • Another bill ALEC innovated was SB1070, which allowed law enforcement to check the immigration status of individuals during stops, leading to increased racial profiling and further marginalization of immigrant communities. This legislation exemplifies the broader trend of utilizing law enforcement as a tool against specific demographics, rather than addressing underlying social issues.

  • Immigration detention facilities are just prisons, but just for immigrants, indicating a disturbing overlap in how society treats those seeking refuge or a better life. This mirrors the criminal justice system's failures, where individuals are detained not for criminal behavior but for their legal status, thus continuing the cycle of exploitation and abuse.

  • In prison, they inflate the price of phone calls and basic necessities, further exacerbating the financial burden on families and making it nearly impossible for detainees to maintain connections with their loved ones. This exploitation highlights the systemic issues within these facilities, where profit motives overshadow human rights and dignity.

  • Healthcare and other necessities are also subject to exorbitant costs, leaving detainees with limited access to essential services. This creates an environment where basic human needs are neglected, further impacting the physical and mental well-being of those confined.

  • Corporations are now investing in free labor, profiting from a system that commodifies incarceration, ultimately prioritizing profit over the rehabilitation and humane treatment of individuals.

  • Everything we see from JCPenney, Victoria's Secret, and similar corporations serves as a reminder of how deeply intertwined consumerism and the prison-industrial complex have become, as these companies engage in practices that benefit financially from the exploitation of incarcerated individuals.

  • The prison industrial complex perpetuates a cycle of injustice by relying on cheap labor, thereby perpetuating systemic inequality and undermining efforts for genuine reform in the justice system.

  • The bail system exacerbates these inequalities by favoring those with financial means, while those unable to pay remain trapped in the system, often leading to harsher sentencing and higher recidivism rates.

  • A lot of people of color face significant barriers as they navigate the legal system, further compounding the effects of systemic racism and economic disparity.

  • 97 percent of the prison population in the United States is subjected to plea bargains, which often pressure individuals to accept guilt regardless of their actual involvement in a crime, highlighting how the system manipulates vulnerable communities.

  • People are pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit to avoid the uncertainty of trial and the potential for harsher penalties, perpetuating a cycle of injustice and undermining the integrity of the justice system.

  • Courts punish him for having the audacity to challenge the system, reinforcing a punitive culture that discourages individuals from seeking fair treatment under the law.

  • Khaleef sat 3 years in prison, suffered through many beatings by prison inmates and guards, only for the charges to get dropped eventually, exposing the brutal reality that systemic abuses and wrongful incarceration can destroy lives without offering any form of justice in return.

  • Two years after his release from jail Khaleef Browder hanged himself in his home, illustrating the devastating psychological toll that extended wrongful imprisonment can inflict, as well as the urgent need for reforms to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

  • Over 40,000 collateral consequences emerge from incarceration, affecting not only the individual but also their families and communities, highlighting the widespread and long-lasting impact of the criminal justice system on society as a whole.

  • Can’t get business licenses, food stamps, job applications, etc

  • Losing the right to vote

  • Some of the assets from Jim Crow have been reconstructed and essentially okayed when you're labeled a criminal or a felon

  • The term Law and Order repeatedly comes up in this documentary, 13th, as a means to justify the systemic oppression and criminalization of marginalized communities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and disenfranchisement.

  • The prison-industrial complex relies on the inheritance of slavery to create a system that profits from the incarceration of black and brown individuals, further entrenching societal inequalities and barriers to success. This cycle highlights how policies designed to maintain order can disproportionately affect those already struggling with the legacy of historical injustices.

  • Convict leasing, the Jim Crow system, and decades after Jim Crow, a new system of mass incarceration that strips millions of individuals of their rights, perpetuating the cycle of criminalization and poverty. This form of imprisonment is not merely punitive, but also serves as a mechanism for economic exploitation, allowing private corporations to profit from cheap labor.

  • The underlying message of this documentary, highlighting events of police brutality and systemic racism, calls for a reevaluation of the policies and practices that govern law enforcement and the criminal justice system, urging viewers to recognize the urgent need for reform and accountability.

  • The opposite of criminalization is humanization, which emphasizes the need for society to acknowledge the humanity of those caught in the criminal justice system and to work towards restorative justice practices that foster rehabilitation and reintegration, rather than perpetual punishment.

  • The film ends with this guy saying he’s seen people saying that, but how can we in the past? I don't understand how people tolerated slavery and Jim Crow. How can people go to lynchings and tolerate them? If I were in that time, I wouldn’t accept that. Still, the truth is we are living in that time right now, as systemic injustices continue to unfold before our eyes, often normalized and overlooked, challenging us to confront our complicity and take action against the oppressive systems that persist today.