This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Start here if you’re confused or doubtful about racism
I’m an African-American woman, but I wasn’t fully aware of racism, nor did I genuinely understand the depths of racism until after college. If I’m Black and it took me this long to understand it, I bet there are many non-Black individuals who also still struggle to grasp and understand how deep racism is ingrained in our society – especially considering non-Black individuals have never lived in Black skin (something many people forget, which perpetuates a lack of empathy).
The One Documentary I Always Recommend
Recently, I lost a friend of over ten years to a conversation about race. One of the films I recommended she watch is “The 13th.” To me, this documentary does an extraordinary job at informing individuals – from all backgrounds – just how complex the concept of racism is. More importantly, it shares what slavery and racism look like today.
Length of Documentary
The film is a little over an hour, and the format is easily digestible. You won’t feel like you’re in a laborious history class; you will stay engaged throughout the entire film. You will experience enlightenment after watching this film.
Documentary: The 13th – Ava Duvernay
The 13th Documentary gets its name from the 13th Amendment (the abolishment of slavery in 1865)- a powerful political move. Yet, many racial issues continued going strong despite the amendment taking effect.
Fundamentally, the documentary reminds us that slavery still breathes – viciously. Slavery has mutated – like a virus or cancer; it has evolved with the time to ensure the Black Americans remain second-class citizens. One way this is done is through incarceration. African-Americans are convicted disproportionately more than any other racial group.
There are also other factors that contribute to the perpetuation of racism and slavery including:
Lynching (hanging black people)
Jim Crow Laws (racial segregation)
Disenfranchisement (voting rights)
The War on Drugs (targeted at minority communities)
Food for Thought: Why are individuals sitting in jail 20 years for possession of marijuana (something legal throughout the U.S.)?
The Evolution: Slavery 2.0
Slavery → convict leasing → disproportionate mass incarceration of minorities for minor offenses (slavery 2.0)→ GPS monitoring, house arrest, ankle/wrist monitors
Since formal slavery is no longer legal, money can only be made off the backs of Black individuals through mass incarceration. The 13th Amendment has a critical clause that has reincarnated slavery, which has masked itself through penal labor:
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction [Source].”
After abolishing slavery, many southern states gave unjust sentencing for minor offenses to minorities. If individuals couldn’t pay their fines, they were forced into unpaid labor (i.e., convict leasing). The increase in convict leasing sparked a bulb: it’s incentivizing to criminalize more offenses – whether they are legitimate or illegitimate.
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The Prison System Is The Epitome of Corruption
If you’re not aware to sponsor/support an inmate in jail, you’re looking at hundreds of dollars every month. Not to include the money these institutions might receive from the government. Every inmate is a dollar number. More importantly, the free labor these inmates provide is invaluable to prison institutions. Why would they want to give up free labor? There is no incentive to stop the malice practices.
It’s profitable to put black individuals in the legal system. It’s VERY profitable.
Incarceration rates have escalated over time. Surprisingly, crime has decreased, but most people don’t know this. Republicans preach the opposite to disseminate fear nationwide: “Crime is rising!” We can see a clear example of this with the passionate declaration of war on drugs. But who do these actions affect the most? People of color – more specifically Black individuals.
Since incarceration rates are increasing, more private prisons are penetrating the market to enjoy some of the profits. The potential profit margin will continue to increase at the rate we’re headed, which only entices the continual feed of black individuals into the system.
Governments already deal with overcrowding. Private prisons are here to save the day; they have more resources to build and invest in facilities. It’s impossible for private institutions not to make their money back a thousandfold; the incarceration industry is highly profitable long-term. The more inmates you have, the more labor they can do for free.
Notable Mentions From The 13th
Over-incarceration of black individuals has disrupted and disintegrated black families and their children.
The US has 5% of the world’s population but 25 % of the world’s prisoners. – President Obama
~97% of the prison population has never had a trial, which means they have not received their fundamental rights.
Rich criminals are rewarded with freedom, and poor “criminals” are punished with captivity.
Lynching black people has evolved to shooting black people.
“The film explores the demonization of minority poor through [..] decades to serve political ends, contributing to fears of minorities by whites and to problems of police brutality against minority communities. In the 21st century, the regularity of fatal police shootings of unarmed minorities in apparently minor confrontations has been demonstrated by videos taken by bystanders and by the increasing use of cameras in police cars or worn by officers” – The 13th
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This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.