13TH Documentary review.

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13TH Documentary review.

The film ’13TH,’ directed by Ava DuVernay and about the American prison system and how it leads to racial injustice, was excellent. The film begins with a look at how African Americans have been enslaved and mistreated throughout their history. The 13th amendment, which abolished slavery and freed all African Americans, was ratified after the Civil War ended in 1865. Whites, on the other hand, discovered a loophole in the dependent, which stated that “no slavery or voluntary servitude is allowed except as a criminal punishment.” It was an ideal opportunity for whites to ‘legally enslave’ African Americans to revive the southern economy, devastated by the civil war. The police prosecuted Black men for minor offenses such as loitering. This was the catalyst for the first wave of imprisonment. When Ronald Reagan took office in 1982, he gave the impression that drugs were to blame for the country’s economic problems and that blacks were to blame. When the “War on Drugs” became too literal, African Americans were imprisoned for small amounts of marijuana and other drugs, and a large number of US civilians were also imprisoned. After Paula Klaas was introduced and killed later in the decade, California’s ‘Three Strikes Out’ rule was enacted. The law states that if a person commits a third violent crime, he or she will be imprisoned for the remainder of his or her life or a shorter period. Four thousand two hundred misdemeanor prisoners had to be released to fulfill the Three Strikes detainees. Many citizens in prison at the time were required to serve mandatory minimum sentences. The bulk of prosecutors’ offices have been handed over to White people, and civil lawsuits have been dropped (ninety-five percent).

This implies that judges no longer weigh the essence of the crime when deciding on a penalty instead of imposing a predetermined punishment. The racial system is explored in greater detail later in the film. At the age of 21, Fred Hampton was a strong leader who brought together blacks, whites, Hispanics, and others to fight for justice. According to Whites, Hampton had no choice but to resign because he had done so much good. Hampton’s house was raided at 4:30 a.m., and he was shot while lying in bed next to his pregnant wife. Anglea is a fictitious character created by Anglea, whose formal name is Angela. Another powerful African-American woman was Yvonne Davis. Davis was born on January 26, 1994, in Birmingham, Alabama. According to the government, she was one of the “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives.” Angela Davis was charged with abduction, murder, and robbery without a warrant. She was arrested, but she was saved and able to escape to Cuba thanks to the aid of her many relatives (including white allies). The President wanted to put her to trial at the time, but Angela fought back and destroyed the case, resulting in a free woman walking out of the courtrooms! ALEC, or the American Legislative Exchange Council, was created in September 1973. ALEC is a group of lawmakers and business executives that plays an important role in the US legislative process. ALEC has given financing to corporations such as Walmart and other profitable businesses for more than four decades. George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin in 2016. Zimmerman was found guilty, but a Florida statute that allows people to “conduct and use self-defense if they feel threatened” allowed him to be found not guilty. Following the heinous shooting, ALEC enacted the “stand your ground” rule, and Walmart and other corporations withdrew from the organization.

Arms sales, on the other hand, rose as more people began to purchase weapons for self-defense. Walmart has reaped the most benefits from weapons sales since it is the largest producer of long-arms. ALEC is also deeply involved with our ‘gang detention’ programs, such as probation and speech therapy. The government has developed GPS-enabled bracelets and wristlets to prevent people under house arrest from fleeing too quickly. This is a different type of imprisonment in people’s homes and neighborhoods (mostly African Americans). ALEC continues to back large corporations such as State Farm, Sprint, Verizon, and the tobacco industry. Kalief Browder was an Afro-American born in the Bronx, New York, on May 25, 1993. He and his friends returned home from a party when he was arrested and charged with stealing a camera, $700, a credit card, and an iPod touch backpack. Browder’s family lacked financial capital to post a $10,000 bond, as the government hoped it would. This is the government’s last resort for poor and innocent Americans who are aware they cannot afford bail. As a result, 97% of individuals are never charged with a crime. The government uses threats to force innocent black people to plead guilty or accept the mandatory minimum penalty. Browder was sentenced to three years in prison as part of a plea bargain rather than serving a 30-year term if he went to trial. Kalief turned down the plea bargain and spent time in jail fighting and being attacked by other inmates and police officers. He attempted suicide many times. After nearly three years in prison pending trial, he was acquitted of all charges and released. He hung up the phone two years after his release, at the age of 22.

I assume the prison system is connected to the history of slavery since African Americans were “legally” free after the Civil War but were forced back into slavery due to a loophole in the 13th amendment. Since 1865, the government and the White Community have incarcerated, violently beaten, and discriminated against black people for minor offenses. When police continue to arrest, attack, and kill members of the black community, today’s brutality is a continuation of mass incarceration. Since the white community dislikes the black community, the white community is willing to get away with these crimes. Both Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman were cleared of their murders. By approving and encouraging this critical activity, I believe the government favors the White community.

Work citedhttps://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8