Mass Incarceration In Ava Duvernay

In the documentary, 13th, the director, Ava DuVernay, conducts a detailed analysis of the system of mass incarceration in America. More specifically, how the prison structure of America affects people of color. The 13th amendment may have physically removed the shackles that enslaved African Americans, but replaced them with “mass incarceration, police brutality and policies that have continually disenfranchised people of color.”
Many times throughout the film, the word “Criminal” is projected on the screen at the center of a black background. Ava’s display of imagery is simple but has a very complex meaning. The screen plays into the film’s theme of “Dehumanization of African Americans.” Often, people of color are seen as “Criminals,” regardless
of who they are and their background. People of color are portrayed as uncivilized beings not part of the human race. In addition, inmates are treated as second class citizen. Despite being guilty of a crime, some innocent, they are still people. If you were to put us all at the kitchen table, we are all human.
In addition, the actions of others does not device your self-value. James Baldwin, writes to his nephew in “My Dungeon Shook,” “Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity.” At the end of the film, Ava opens the door and now it's up to the viewers to step in and take the opportunity to make the change they want to see in the world. Ava states in an interview with Oprah,“You have to have people that care about the issue in order to make change.” As young African Americans, we must stop giving others a reason to treat us like second class citizens. We must challenge their stereotypes by proving them wrong with our actions and positivity. Pressure from people can make the change. But we first be aware of what is going on and stop adding to the problems.