13th Reflection
Although we have the 13th Amendment banning slavery, some believe that our government leaders still haven’t accepted it, and they have found other ways to continue the mistreatment of people of color. The movie 13th explores the controversial topic of racism and discrimination from African Americans’ perspectives. I agree with most of the information presented in this movie; I also support their overall conclusion that the 13th Amendment is a tool to get rid of African Americans in our society. I believe that your government has taken part in numerous ways to target and infuriate African Americans in society, even after the 13th Amendment and the Civil Rights movement. The quotes and information presented in this video strengthen my thoughts and ideas of the mistreatment and unjust behaviors towards African Americans.
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Americans today tend to believe that racism and discrimination isn’t something that is an issue to worry about in our country, and it has been improving throughout the years.
However, various people in the 13 would most likely disagree with that statement. In fact, New Jersey Senator, Cory Booker, said that “Right now, we have more African-Americans under criminal supervision that all the slaves back in the 1850s.” Booker’s point is that while African Americans have equal rights,but the justice system is full of racism and discrimination which separates whites from blacks. Another quote that reinforces the idea of racism in our justice system comes professor and writer Michelle Alexander. She says that, “So many aspects of the old Jim Crows are suddenly legal again once you’ve been a branded felon.” What she means by this is that once you’ve been convicted as a felon you suddenly lose may rights as a U.S.
citizen.
I’ve always believed that blacks and whites have not been equal, even after the 13th Amendment and the Civil Rights Movement. This can be shown in many different ways. The amount of African Americans found in prisons across the United States compared to any other race is one example. One in three black men are likely to be imprisoned in their lifetime, while only one in seven white men are imprisoned. African Americans are also being targeted and thrown in prison as convicted felons, so they lose a lot of their rights such as, the ability to vote, travel abroad, the right to own guns, as well as employment in certain fields. After being convicted of a felony you are also usually looked down upon by society as well.
The facts from this video also show that racism and discrimination towards blacks have worsened immensely. One fact mentioned in this video is that the U.S. prison population is the highest than any other country; in fact, in 1970 the prison population what roughly 330 thousand, and currently the prison population has risen to over 2 million. Another fact that I found surprising is that the 13th Amendment says that imprisonment for a crime is an exception to slavery, which is the main reason why the black U.S. prison population is over 40%, yet black men account for 6.5% of the U.S. population. These facts and many others, are all reasons why I agree with the overall conclusion that the 13th Amendment is a tool to get rid of American Americans in our cities.
After being presented with these facts, I wasn’t really shocked or surprised. I often wondered why the U.S. prison population was mainly black and extremely large, but I wasn’t aware of the what the 13th Amendment actually stated. In history classes we all learned that the 13th amendment freed all the black slaves, however, the wording of the amendment left the door open for other ways to impose on their rights as U.S. citizens. After everything I learned in this movie, I can conclude that the color of your skin really does determine your future, for better or for worse.
Overall, I support and agree with almost all the facts and information presented in this video. I believe that the battle against racism towards blacks has rapidly grown, and the issue will never be fully resolved. The quotes and information from this video has strengthened my opinions on this controversial topic in what I believe is a good way. This movie also did a great job showing that not only African Americans should be concerned, but anyone who cares about the this topic should be concerned as well. The movie shows that powerful white leaders running the country have always been able to find ways to continue harsh discrimination towards blacks. If the incarceration rate falls and prison cells become empty what will the new way?
Americans today tend to believe that racism and discrimination isn’t something that is an issue to worry about in our country, and it has been improving throughout the years.
However, various people in the 13 would most likely disagree with that statement. In fact, New Jersey Senator, Cory Booker, said that “Right now, we have more African-Americans under criminal supervision that all the slaves back in the 1850s.” Booker’s point is that while African Americans have equal rights,but the justice system is full of racism and discrimination which separates whites from blacks. Another quote that reinforces the idea of racism in our justice system comes professor and writer Michelle Alexander. She says that, “So many aspects of the old Jim Crows are suddenly legal again once you’ve been a branded felon.” What she means by this is that once you’ve been convicted as a felon you suddenly lose may rights as a U.S.
citizen.
I’ve always believed that blacks and whites have not been equal, even after the 13th Amendment and the Civil Rights Movement. This can be shown in many different ways. The amount of African Americans found in prisons across the United States compared to any other race is one example. One in three black men are likely to be imprisoned in their lifetime, while only one in seven white men are imprisoned. African Americans are also being targeted and thrown in prison as convicted felons, so they lose a lot of their rights such as, the ability to vote, travel abroad, the right to own guns, as well as employment in certain fields. After being convicted of a felony you are also usually looked down upon by society as well.
The facts from this video also show that racism and discrimination towards blacks have worsened immensely. One fact mentioned in this video is that the U.S. prison population is the highest than any other country; in fact, in 1970 the prison population what roughly 330 thousand, and currently the prison population has risen to over 2 million. Another fact that I found surprising is that the 13th Amendment says that imprisonment for a crime is an exception to slavery, which is the main reason why the black U.S. prison population is over 40%, yet black men account for 6.5% of the U.S. population. These facts and many others, are all reasons why I agree with the overall conclusion that the 13th Amendment is a tool to get rid of American Americans in our cities.
After being presented with these facts, I wasn’t really shocked or surprised. I often wondered why the U.S. prison population was mainly black and extremely large, but I wasn’t aware of the what the 13th Amendment actually stated. In history classes we all learned that the 13th amendment freed all the black slaves, however, the wording of the amendment left the door open for other ways to impose on their rights as U.S. citizens. After everything I learned in this movie, I can conclude that the color of your skin really does determine your future, for better or for worse.
Overall, I support and agree with almost all the facts and information presented in this video. I believe that the battle against racism towards blacks has rapidly grown, and the issue will never be fully resolved. The quotes and information from this video has strengthened my opinions on this controversial topic in what I believe is a good way. This movie also did a great job showing that not only African Americans should be concerned, but anyone who cares about the this topic should be concerned as well. The movie shows that powerful white leaders running the country have always been able to find ways to continue harsh discrimination towards blacks. If the incarceration rate falls and prison cells become empty what will the new way?