The documentary 13th, written and directed by Ava DuVernay, is a must-see. It takes the word "documentary" to an entirely new level. To take a look at mass incarceration in the United States, this documentary traces the history of black oppression in the United States back to the time of slavery.
The information presented is both shocking, and humbling. To see all of the names of unarmed black men who have been killed by police listed on the screen is heart-wrenching. However, this is not a film solely about police brutality. This is a film about the American conscience, who we are as a nation and a people, and what it truly means to be a democracy of the people and by the people. After all, how can we call ourselves a democracy if millions of our own people are losing their voting rights after being incarcerated? How can we call ourselves a democracy when we have millions of our own people behind bars due to minimum sentencing laws?
The quality of this documentary can also be seen in the way it incorporates modern music, giving it a fresh and modern feel. Watching it is engrossing and invigorating. I would recommend this documentary, which is on Netflix, to every single person I know. It has provided me personally with a new perspective on the prison system in this country, and on race relations.
