The last few months have been a pivotal moment in our history for many reasons, and I, like everyone else, have been deeply affected. Though I’ve been fighting for equal rights before these horrendous murders spurred the world into action, I knew that stopping white supremacy required more effort. I needed to educate myself more. And so we come to the 13th documentary. 

All my friends… it’s on Netflix so no excuses. 

I think every person (especially a white person) should have to watch it. 

I’m gritting my teeth as I type that - not because I’m a morally wrong person who thought that the documentary was bad, I stand firm in its brilliance, but because it was made by Ava DurVernay. Do you remember that little movie called A Wrinkle in Time? Ya… that little thing. Well she butchered one of the most important books from my childhood. Do you understand where I might be a little bitter? Goes to show you how amazing 13th is if I’m willing to applaud the woman that crushed my heart. Maybe that’s the key here, she needs to stick to making documentaries. 

13th covers the history of the United State’s prison system since the Civil War, showing how it has essentially become the new form of oppression for the black community, creating a racial divide. For only 4.25% of the world’s population, the United States is home to 25% of the world’s prisoners. The majority of which are black Americans. It’s shocking to see the numbers grow under each president. 13th shows how the civil rights movement didn’t provide the freedom many thought. Instead, the war for equality remained the same, it just changed its name. 

It was easy getting drawn into the film by the aesthetics. Information needs to be artfully delivered in a documentary, and DuVernay did it well. The graphics paired perfectly with the statistics and when the information got a little too heavy or the audience’s hearts needed a slight break, there were music interludes. Hard hitting lyrics would dash across the screen, delivering the point even stronger. You can’t shy away from the pain in the film, and I’m glad that DuVernay didn’t take it easy on her audience. She showed the hard stuff. The points to incite a need for change. 

I thought that I already knew the history before I hit play. I was very wrong. Another example of how we need to keep learning. Watching 13th was a humbling experience. I didn’t know about the movie in the early 1900s that sparked the insurgence of the KKK. I didn’t fully understand how bad the war on drugs was for POC. That what children were taught in schools was brainwashing a larger divide. What parent wouldn’t want to tell their kid to say no to drugs? I see the real kernel of police brutality, and I see what needs to change. To change the narrative for the black community. Honestly, for any POC in the United States. 

I need to stop there before I give away all the information. 

The key is to keep educating yourself on the issue and undoing the lies ingrained in our heads by the people in power. 13th is a great jumping off point. 

My only fault with the documentary was where the timeline stopped. Obama was never mentioned though you can see the graphic showing the spike between 2010 and 2016. The inmate population has gone over 3 million but their story stops when it gets to 2 million. Why was that? What happened during a black president’s time in office? Even Hillary is painted in a better light, though she’s a helping hand in the problem. Still, there is enough information to know change has to happen. 

If you want to be the change, you must know the facts. Good luck my friends. 

Happy Watching

Love Kait