Transcript of '13th' Film by Ava Duvernay: Unpacking Systemic Racism in America's Prison Industrial Complex

The critically-acclaimed documentary '13TH' directed by award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay has sparked a national conversation about racial inequality within the United States criminal justice system. Released on Netflix earlier this year, the film offers an unflinching examination of how systemic racism continues to plague African Americans through mass incarceration.

Through powerful archival footage, interviews with influential figures such as Angela Davis and former US Attorney General Eric Holder Jr., DuVernay skillfully traces back centuries worth of historical precedent that laid foundation for todays broken prison system. From the institutionally racist Jim Crow laws passed after Emancipation to President Ronald Reagans so-called 'War on Drugs' which disproportionately targeted African American communities, 13TH masterfully reveals how Americas supposed land of opportunity has instead become a modern-day plantation where people of color are perpetually confined.

By using text overlays, voiceovers and expert analysis alongside personal accounts from those directly affected by these discriminatory policies, DuVernay humanizes statistics often reduced to mere numbers on a graph. We hear the heart-wrenching stories of mothers separated from their children as they await trial behind bars; we see families torn apart due to trumped-up charges levied against them simply because of skin color.

The film also examines how these systemic issues have far-reaching consequences beyond individual lives, perpetuating cycles of poverty and generational trauma within already vulnerable populations. Through DuVernays masterful storytelling, 13TH leaves viewers feeling both enraged at the sheer audacity of Americas racialized justice system – yet simultaneously hopeful that through awareness-raising efforts like this powerful documentary, change is finally possible.

With its thought-provoking narrative structure and unflinching honesty towards uncomfortable truths, '13th' is a must-see for anyone interested in understanding America's ongoing struggle with systemic racism. DuVernay masterfully crafts an important cinematic experience that will linger long after the credits roll – leaving audiences compelled to action as they demand justice for those still fighting against Americas broken prison system.

Watch Ava Duvernays '13th' on Netflix today and be part of a national conversation about ending mass incarceration once and for all.

Transcript of 13th film ava duvernay