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13th is a thought-provoking and eye-opening documentary that examines America's booming prison population and its historical and systemic roots. With just 5% of the global population, the United States astonishingly incarcerates 25% of the world's prisoners. The film delves into the various factors that have contributed to this surge in incarceration rates, including chattel slavery, influential films like The Birth of a Nation, and incidents like the brutal murder of Emmett Till.
As 13th chronicles the civil rights movement and the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, it explores how these steps towards racial equality were countered by the political agendas of presidents like Richard M. Nixon and Ronald Reagan. The declaration of the war on drugs under Reagan's administration is particularly highlighted, as it played a critical role in disproportionately targeting and criminalizing Black communities.
Through interviews with scholars, activists, and politicians, the documentary exposes the manipulative tactics employed by lawmakers to maintain the profitability of the prison system, such as the privatization of prisons. It sheds light on the exploitative practices and the vast profits made through the incarceration of marginalized communities, ultimately questioning the true purpose and effectiveness of the criminal justice system.
13th is a powerful and compelling documentary that shines a light on the racial disparities and systematic injustices within the American prison system. It urges viewers to critically examine the policies and prejudices that have perpetuated mass incarceration and to question the notion of justice in the United States.
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