To the people who know about racism, or even experience racism in this country, the documentary “13th” shouldn’t be hard to watch. It might add more grievances to the heart like it did for me when I watched it. Still it is amazing to witness when the media gathers information on someone’s past, and creates a horrid human being. The 13th, directed by Ava DuVernay, goes deep into systematic oppression, and shows us who they target. Was slavery ever over? Will it ever be over? My heart ached in a much different way than it ever did when watching this documentary. It unveils astringent truths that will make it arduous to watch, but it may give you an understanding as to why the Black Lives Matter Movement is important.
Imagine walking home and law enforcement stops and approaches you. They take you in for questioning and accuse you for robbery, and then throw you in jail. Kalief Browder, one of the many innocent black men experienced racial injustice just because he was black. He was arrested and falsely charged on infringement. Unable to make the $10,000 bail he refused to agree with a plea bargain because he knew he was innocent. Three years he spent on Rikers Island suffering aspersions from the guards and inmates. Kalief was physically free after DNA proof determined his innocence. Mentally he was still detained from the experience while being locked up. It resulted in him ending his life at the age of 22.
Blacks are to be feared, formidable, disturbing, threatening, and dangerous. Words used against us to create abhorrence, and to make the assumption that we are no good. There are two clips from the film that have troubling similarities. The first clip shows a historical event from back in the 60’s of a black man being pushed and slapped by white people dressed in police uniform. The other clip is from not too long ago during a Trump rally, in which a young woman being intensely pushed around the same way. Racism never ceased in this country, it never left. It just found new ways to expand, and to advance.
This documentary goes deep, and brings to light the loopholes of the constitution. To any person that commits a crime will be held accountable without a trial. No. Any Black or Latino who commits a crime will be held accountable without a trial. A bail will be set to a high amount will not be affordable. Their days in prison will either be prolonged or permanent. This is the new slavery.
