13th 2016

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, while celebrated for abolishing slavery, harbors an often-overlooked provision that this powerful documentary exposes. The clause states, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist.” This loophole effectively legitimizes forced labor, provided that the individual is a convict. Director Ava DuVernay constructs a compelling argument, illustrating how this exception has perpetuated the subjugation of people of color in America.

Ratified in 1865, the documentary employs a blend of historical archives and insightful interviews to reinforce its thesis. It features impactful clips from former President Richard Nixon, whose infamous call for “Law & Order” inadvertently led to a dramatic rise in incarceration rates. Astonishingly, the United States houses 25% of the world’s prisoners, despite possessing only 5% of the global population. This policy, as noted by John Ehrlichman, who served as Assistant to Nixon for Domestic Affairs, reveals a chilling acknowledgment of deception: “Did we know we were lying? Of course we did.”

Delving deeper, the documentary asserts that the systemic issues visible today—such as drug busts, Jim Crow laws, and segregation—are merely modern manifestations of a long-standing effort to dominate Black America. The contemporary Prison/Industrial Complex emerges as a new iteration of the same entrenched problems. DuVernay passionately contends that mere adjustments to the system will not suffice; rather, it necessitates fundamental reconstruction to eradicate these persistent inequities.