The filmmaker Ava DuVernay’s documentary “13th” explores the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States. The Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865, included an exception allowing slavery for individuals convicted of crimes. The film highlights how this clause has been exploited to perpetuate a form of legalized slavery within America’s prison system.

The film begins with the idea that 25 percent of the people in the world who are incarcerated are incarcerated in the U.S. Although the U.S. has just 5% of the world’s population. “13th” charts the explosive growth in America’s prison population; in 1970, there were about 200,000 prisoners; today, the prison population is more than 2 million. The documentary touches on chattel slavery; D. W. Griffith’s film “The Birth of a Nation”; Emmett Till; the civil rights movement; the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Richard M. Nixon; and Ronald Reagan’s declaration of the war on drugs and much more.

With this film as context, why do we see an increase of African American incarceration rates increasing?

• Director
  • Ava DuVernay
• Writers
  • Spencer Averick
  • Ava DuVernay
• Stars
  • Melina Abdullah
  • Michelle Alexander
  • Cory Booker

Movie review with Oprah: https://youtu.be/OFAyhgY92P4 

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6:45 – Doors open (no access to the building and parking lot prior to 6:30)
7:15 – Movie begins
8:45 – Group discussion
9:15 – Doors close

• Notes:
  • we have fragrance sensitive attendees, so please be thoughtful and refrain from the use of any fragrance products.
  • the building has an accessible entrance at parking level and includes a lift to the upper screening level.

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