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Summary Of 13th By Ava Duvernay

1009 Words5 Pages

Demetrious Placido MPHILO - 101 Dr. Hassell The Law Makes People into Property The 2016 American documentary film “13th” by Ava DuVernay explores the prison-industrial complex and its connection to race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States. The title refers to the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, adopted in 1865, which abolished slavery throughout the United States and ended involuntary servitude, except as punishment for convicted criminals. The documentary features interviews with activists, academics, politicians, and public figures, including Angela Davis, Bryan Stevenson, Michelle Alexander, Jelani Cobb, Van Jones, Newt Gingrich, Cory Booker, and Henry Louis Gates Jr. It delves into the economic …show more content…

My premises for supporting this claim is that the 13th Amendment states, “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”. The documentary also presents evidence of systemic racism, discriminatory policies, and the disproportionate imprisonment of Black individuals. The sufficiency of the premises is compelling, but it is important to consider that whether they are sufficient depends on the individuals’ perspectives. I find it to be compelling, while others may require additional evidence. The premises complement the conclusion perfectly and are very well backed up by not only the Constitution of the United States, but also evidence from important political figures. The premises are necessary for the argument because they establish the connection between the 13th Amendment and mass incarceration while providing statistics to back the conclusion …show more content…

The premise would be how critics might argue that high crime rates justify the incarceration of individuals, regardless of racial disparities. Evidence could point to statistical data showing crime rates in specific neighborhoods or cities. A counterclaim would be that the focus should be on addressing the root causes of crime rather than relying solely on punitive measures. Another counter-argument people could use is individual responsibility. The premise would be that some may claim that individual behavior and choices lead to incarceration. The evidence backing this would be that they might highlight cases where criminal actions were directly tied to an individual’s decisions. A counterclaim would then be that structural inequalities (such as lack of education, economic opportunities, and systemic bias) play a significant role in criminal behavior. Finally, a counterargument that could be used is that there are alternative solutions. The premise would be how critics could propose alternative approaches to criminal justice. Evidence would include examples of restorative justice, community-based programs, and rehabilitation. The counterclaim would be how these alternatives prioritize rehabilitation over punishment and aim to reduce

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Analysis Of 13th By Av Devernay

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The impressive documentary 13th by Ava DuVernay, leaves us with insight on how the history of slavery has transformed into our contemporary nation. From slavery to racial discrimination, Jim Crow laws to mass incarceration and police brutality, it appears as if slavery has disappeared ever since the 13th amendment went into effect and that everyone is treated equally. However, our eyes have been blinded by the fact that the term, “slavery,” has been redesigned into a set of metonymies. What comes as a surprise to many current generation viewers is that the 13th amendment provided a loophole, which allowed slavery to continue under one circumstance: one must be convicted. This small piece of exception has caused a series of prolonged crisis

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This is an example of racial bias impacting access to justice and the overlook of incarcerated black americans

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Involuntary Servitude In The Film 13th, By Ava Duvernay

573 Words | 3 Pages

"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. " - Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. It was supposed it to be the end of the America's slave era, but it is far from over. The documentary “13th” directed by Ava DuVernay, argues that the constitution continues to be abused to this day.

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Summary Of 13th

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The documentary 13th was released on October 7, 2016 and it triggered a worldwide shock. As a documentary, it was adept enough to address several ongoing issues, especially regarding the maltreatment of African Americans, but the documentary was shaped around the theme that African Americans were never free, and continue to fight for that freedom. The content within the documentary varied from earlier times where slavery, segregation and, Jim Crow laws existed to the more implicit manner of racism that is presented through the massive imprisonment of African Americans, and unjustified use of the criminal justice system against them. The documentary revolves around three main themes: the overrepresentation of African Americans in the media,

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13th The 13th Amendment Sparknotes

737 Words | 3 Pages

The 13th Amendment, ratified about 157 years ago, states: “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.” In the documentary 13th, the loophole to this American right is explored: although slavery may be illegal, discreetly targeting people of color to put them in prison is not. 13th is a powerful documentary that scrutinizes the unjust U.S. prison system, and explores the repercussions that the abolition of slavery had on people of color. I found that this documentary was engaging, yet brutally honest in the way it addresses historic discriminatory acts that have caused the incarceration rates in America to rise through the

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Summary Of 13th By Av Duvernay

1085 Words | 5 Pages

The criminal justice system is utilized as a means to maintain oppression of Black people even after slavery was abolished. Through minor offenses and possession of even small amounts of drugs, Black people are often subjected to long periods of incarceration. This serves as a way to enforce labor without slavery. The documentary aims to highlight the fact that the legacy of slavery and racial oppression continues to exist in the United States through the criminal justice system. According to Owusu-Bempah and Wortley's "Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice in Canada," “Aboriginal and black Canadians, are grossly overrepresented in Canada’s correctional institutions.

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1310 Words | 6 Pages

Do you remember reading about the slave trade in our history books? And how Abraham Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation which abolished slavery. But yet, under the 13th Amendment one is forced to involuntary slavery when convicted of a crime. Yes, it is the year 2017 and we can say slavery still exist. Saying that slavery was “Abolished” would be deceptive from my part, I believe it was put to an end but then reconstructed into the American Prison System.

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Additionally, investing in community-based alternatives to incarceration, such as restorative justice programs and diversionary initiatives, can help address the underlying social and economic factors driving crime and incarceration. By advocating for evidence-based policies and engaging in grassroots activism, individuals can contribute to meaningful change and work towards building a more just and equitable society. Encouraging viewers to consider potential solutions to address racial disparities within the criminal justice system, "13th" underscores the importance of collective action and systemic reform. By promoting evidence-based policies and community-based interventions, audiences can actively participate in efforts to dismantle systemic racism and create a more equitable and just society. In conclusion, "13th" serves as a powerful catalyst for discourse on the crisis of mass incarceration in America.

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One in every seventeen white males will do prison time of some sort, compared with one in every three male African-Americans; once put in jail, prisoners automatically lose their rights, just as slaves would. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a nonprofit organization was behind the Florida “stand your ground” law that helped freed George Zimmerman after the murder of Trayvon Martin in 2012. Now Zimmerman is considered as a White Hispanic and Trayvon was of course, black; a child was shot and killed by a grown up because he felt threatened by a black kid and an organization helps justify the murder of this child. This is by all means unfair because if this crime went the other way around, one can bet that the black kid would be severely punished. The 13th amendment freed at least four million slaves but as soon as they break a law, they are immediately reminded of those ruthless moments, they are branded as criminals.

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13th, By Ana Duvernay

1077 Words | 5 Pages

Attention was never brought to the fact that the amendment also states that this abolishment of slavery is an exception if you are a criminal. The 13th amendment is worded this way as an attempt to keep people of color oppressed, treated with injustice, and ultimately as slaves. When reflecting on this, it makes me realize the systematic racism built within our education system as these things are not taught in our classrooms. In our country, if you have been incarcerated (typically unfairly) as punishment you are treated as a slave, which is allowed through our constitution. Before watching this

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Another claim is that African Americans are overrepresented as criminals in the news. Therefore, the news expresses “fear” to the white community toward black communities.

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The 13th amendment to the US constitution abolished slavery; once put in place in 1865, blacks were free people in the United States, unless they were criminals. The documentary 13th does an amazing job putting forth the correlation between mass incarceration and race. It explores the loophole within the 13th amendment which states that slavery shall not exist within the United States, unless of punishment for a crime. This allows for criminals to be “slaves” within the prison system. The documentary follows slavery and oppression of African-Americans from the time of working in the fields, to current times, where one in every 3 black men are expected to be incarcerated at some point in their lifetime.

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It focuses on how the criminal justice system has been used to disproportionately target and control people of color,

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It is for this reason legislators should consider adopting alternative policies and practices that may assist with high racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Some recommendations include: Establishing a national criminal justice commission to examine incarceration and racial disparities; Scaling back the number of prosecutions for low-level drug offenders when it comes to the war on drugs; Abolishing mandatory minimum sentences; Developing new policies and procedures and integrating them into training programs to reduce racial

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