13th

13th is a critically acclaimed documentary film created by Ava DuVernay, which debuted at the 54th New York Film Festival before becoming available for streaming on Netflix in 2016. This powerful documentary features insightful commentary from a host of esteemed individuals such as Melina Abdullah, Michelle Alexander, and Cory Booker, and aims to shed light on a systemic issue that plagues the United States: mass incarceration, primarily focusing on its effect on African Americans.

The title, 13th, stems from the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution enacted in 1865, which states that "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." In the film, DuVernay skillfully unravels a narrative suggesting that the clause leaves a loophole for legal slavery to continue in the form of mass incarceration.

13th meticulously charts the history of racial inequality in the United States, showing the dire impact of institutionalized racism on the African American population. Rather than being a chronicling of past events, this documentary convincingly draws the thread from the past into the present day, highlighting a persistent culture of racial prejudice, social inequality, and peaceful protests that are still reverberating in today's America.

Each of the primary featured speakers offers their unique perspective on the themes of the documentary. Dr. Melina Abdullah, a professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA, provides an academic viewpoint on the social dynamics of race in America, while Michelle Alexander, a lawyer and author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, offers her legal expertise on the subject of mass incarceration. Meanwhile, Cory Booker, a United States Senator from New Jersey, provides a political perspective on how public policies have contributed to the incarceration problem.

In her filmmaking, DuVernay doesn't shy away from shocking facts and emotionally moving storytelling. She adroitly uses a combination of archival footage, infographics, and testimonies from politicians, historians, scholars, and activists to deliver her potent message. The film explores a wide range of subjects connected to its central theme, including the abolishment of slavery, the Jim Crow laws, the Civil Rights Movement, the War on Drugs, and the role of private corporations in the prison system.

One of the movie's most striking points concerns the ballooning prison population in the United States over recent decades. Drawing attention to the stark racial disparities that exist within this issue, the film puts forward a credible case that societal bias and systemic racism have forced inequitable numbers of African Americans into the prison system. DuVernay powerfully highlights the long-term economic, psychological, and social costs that this issue imposes on marginalized populations and American society as a whole.

Above all, DuVernay's 13th is a call to action. The documentary pushes viewers to critically examine, question, and understand the foundations of mass incarceration, the prevalence of racially driven violence, and the remnants of systemic racism in America. It urges viewers to not just absorb its message passively but to actively engage in dialogue and action about these deep-seated societal issues.

13th is certainly not for the faint of heart - it uncovers uncomfortable truths about American society and its criminal justice system. Yet, its demand for awareness is precisely what makes it an important watch. As an educational tool and piece of artistic and activist filmmaking, 13th is a significant contribution towards understanding the legacy of racial prejudice in America.

DuVernay’s documentary is powerful and poignant, and will leave viewers with a renewed understanding of the intricacies of systemic racial injustice in America, and the urgent need for social reform. Whether you are a student of history, a social activist, or an ordinary citizen interested in issues of social justice, 13th is a must-watch documentary that provokes thought and encourages transformative conversation.