13th

Seminar
By: Ayo Atanda, Marcos Fernandes, Roman Millan,
Gabriel Gonzales, Calogero Ortega
 To what extent did the documentary
engage you, interest you and captivate
you? Why?
What's so intriguing about this particular documentary is that
it explores the dark side of the American political agenda
and its willingness to exploit minorities through racial
injustice for the purpose of profiting off of it. It also brings
to light, the historical line of reasoning that has led to the
antagonzation of African Americans to the supposed
“justice” system and to the general view of the public. These
societal obstacles have created barriers between white and
black America that still have a presence in today’s world,
being the catalyst for many racially motivated hate crimes
and other animosities that African Americans face in the
present day.
 What type of documentary is this? Is it a reality show, presenter
based or presented as a “God’s point of view”? How would it be
different in another format?
- 13th is a presenter based documentary, as shown in the many segments
featuring several human rights activists, academic scholars, political figures
from both major US political parties, and public figures recounting the story
of the American government’s unethical practices within their prison system.

- In a reality show format for example, the documentary would be presented as

a reenactment of the heinous activities the US government was subduing it’s
minority population (predominantly black people) to.
 ● What themes, issues and conflicts are
represented in the documentary? - The issue that is presented in the
documentary is that after the 13th
amendment was passed, the approximately
10 million in slave population were freed
and were no longer allowed to be used as
What is the 13th Amendment? America’s economic backbone.
- This led to the US economy suffering
- The 13th amendment is the heavily as slave labour contributed to
almost half of America’s financial status at
US law that was passed in the time.
1865, stating that no member - Because of this, the US government began
to use a loophole in the 13th amendment,
of the American population leading to the mass incarceration of
can be subjected to slavery mainly, African Americans for very minor
charges to embezzle the profit from the
unless as a punishment for
free slave labour that was allowed to be
crime. practiced in US prisons, to rebuild the
American economy.
 Which persons are highlighted as major subjects
within the documentary?

● Angela Davis(American political

activist and philosopher)
● Bryan Stevenson(Executive director
of the Equal Justice Initiative)
● Michelle Alexander(American
writer and attorney)
● Newt Gingrich(Former Speaker of
the United States House of
Representatives)
● Grover Norquist(American political
activist)
 In the documentary "13th,"
director Ava DuVernay
Which sources and strategically brings together a
interviewees have been panel of distinguished figures
selected in the such as Michelle Alexander,
documentary? Why do you
Bryan Stevenson, and
think those persons have
Angela Davis. This deliberate
been selected?
selection aims to present a
multifaceted exploration of
mass incarceration and
systemic racism.
 Which perspectives and angles have been chosen in the editorial introductions, the
actual interviews and in the graphic presentations? Why do you think these
journalistic and editorial decisions have been made?.
● Historical perspective:
The film begins with a historical perspective, tracing the roots of systemic racism and discrimination against African
Americans from slavery to the present day.
● Legal and Political Analysis:
Legal and political experts are interviewed to provide an in-depth analysis of policies and laws that have
disproportionately affected Black communities. The documentary delves into the impact of laws like the War on Drugs,
three-strikes laws, and mandatory minimum sentences.
● Personal Testimonies:
The film incorporates personal testimonies from individuals who have experienced the criminal justice system firsthand.
This adds a human element to the documentary, making the issues more relatable and emotionally impactful.
● Visual Evidence:
"13th" uses archival footage, news clips, and visual evidence to support its arguments. This includes scenes of protests,
police brutality, and instances of racial injustice.
● Expert Opinions:
The inclusion of interviews with scholars, activists, and experts in criminal justice and racial inequality contributes to the
credibility of the documentary. These experts provide context, analysis, and historical perspectives to support the film's
claims.
Were the contributors tastefully
balanced and selected? How would the
film have changed with different
experts, presenters etc, and would that
change be for the better?
Critics have praised "13th" for its extensive research and
carefully chosen cast of authors, which included
activists, legal professors, historians, and those who had
firsthand experience with the criminal justice system.
But like any documentary, there are, of course, opinions
concerning potential bias and the inclusion of other
viewpoints.
Some of these viewpoints include:
● Diversity of Opinions
● Policy Advocates
● Opponents of Reform
● Different Presenters
 From whose perspective does the documentary unfold and
how would the film differ from another point of view?
"13th" provides a narrative primarily driven by the voices of activists
and scholars critical of mass incarceration and systemic racism. Their
personal experiences and insights shape the documentary, offering
viewers a perspective rooted in the struggle against social injustices. If
the film were to include the viewpoint of those advocating for stricter
criminal justice policies, it might present an alternative lens, exploring
the rationale behind such measures and the perceived consequences.

However, Ava DuVernay intentionally steers "13th" towards a focused

examination of the impact of the criminal justice system on Black
communities. By doing so, the documentary underscores the systemic
issues that disproportionately affect people of color. The aim is to
heighten awareness of the deep-rooted problems within the system,
fostering a broader understanding of the racial disparities inherent in
the criminal justice landscape. In essence, "13th" serves as a powerful
tool for sparking conversations and driving societal consciousness
towards the need for reform.
 - The USA contains 5% of the world’s population
and yet holds 25% of the world’s population of
prisoners.

- It was admitted by President Nixon’s campaign

Some Facts about America that
this documentary brings to light:
manager that his “war on drugs” campaign was an
excuse to throw more black people in jail for
misdemeanor drug possession charges, to gain
more free prison labour, and to get the population
to associate violent drug use with mainly black
citizens, allowing for the police to treat them
however they wished.

- All examples of white leadership in America can be

recounted without any antagonization towards it,
though there hasn’t been one instance of black
leadership in American history that wasn’t faced
with hefty backlash during it’s time (MLK was
painted out to be a villainous character in the
general media and even by the chief of the FBI at
the time.

- USA lifetime likelihood of imprisonment for white

males is 1 out of 17 whereas for black males, it is 1
out of 3.

- America currently houses approximately 1.8

million prison inmates.
 Would you describe the major issues and stories as essential and
important? Why? / Why not?
The major issues and stories discussed in “13th” are truly
important. This film explores the complex connection
between widespread imprisonment and racism, providing
important context for understanding how social problems
impact our society. By bringing these topics to light, "13th"
hopes to start a discussion and get viewers to reflect
carefully on the institutions forming our society. It is an
effective means of bringing attention to the difficulties in
building a society that is fair and just. To put it simply,
"13th" is a social change agent that gets people talking and
working together to solve the fundamental problems that
keep coming up. By doing this, it advances a larger
conversation about justice, equality, and the actions that
must be taken to create a better tomorrow.
 What kind of essential areas, topics and perspectives are missing
in this documentary (if any)? Why? To what extent may this be
representative for the documentary industry?

"13th" does a good job addressing racial

injustice in America, especially in its prison
system. Something it could go more in depth
about is what steps America’s citizens and
government should take to fix things. It could
also take more steps towards displaying acts
of racial injustice that his happening in other
countries. Though, the topics chosen for the
documentary to focus on depends entirely on
the filmmakers values and interests
concerning the subject at hand.
 What kind of professional and personal values do you discover
among the presenter and the interviewers in the documentary?

- Empathy and Compassion: Given the documentary's focus on racial

injustice, the people involved in it’s production express empathy and
compassion towards those affected by systemic racism and unfair
policies. They value understanding the experiences of marginalized
communities.

- Commitment to Social Change: The people involved in the

documentary are committed to bringing about social change. They see
mass incarceration as a systemic issue that needs addressing, and they
work towards reforms that create a more just and prosperous society for
all races.

- Historical Awareness: The documentary emphasizes the historical

context of racial inequality in the United States, proving that the
involved presenters clearly place value in having an understanding of
historical events and their implications on current social and political
structures.
 Is the overall perspective of the documentary consistent with a
Catholic worldview?
"13th" primarily focuses on issues related to systemic racism, criminal
justice, and mass incarceration in the United States. While it does not
explicitly discuss religious perspectives, some elements within the
documentary may resonate with certain principles within a Catholic
worldview. Elements that might align with a Catholic worldview include:
● Social Justice:
The Catholic Church places a strong emphasis on social justice and the
dignity of every human being, potentially resonating with Catholic
teachings on the inherent dignity of every individual.
● Human Dignity:
The film highlights instances where the criminal justice system
disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.
● Advocacy for the Vulnerable:
Catholic social teaching encourages advocacy for the poor and vulnerable.
The documentary sheds light on the impact of policies on marginalized
communities, reflecting a concern for those who may be vulnerable in the
criminal justice system.
Did the film tell”the truth”? Can a clearly-biased perspective be as
“true” as a more balanced treatment of a subject?
A Clearly-biased perspective can be as true as
a more balanced treatment of a subject as long
as it tells truth backed with facts. In the doc
they tell their truth about systematic racism in
American laws and prisons backed by
evidence such as statistics, and testimonies
from government officials
For example in the film we get a quote
by John Erlichman, a former White
House Counsel in which he is the first to
admit the War On Drugs was a political
assault created in order to help Richard
Nixon win during his campaign in 1968.
“You understand what I'm saying?
We knew we couldn't make it
illegal to be either against the war
or black, but by getting the public
to associate the hippies with
marijuana and blacks with heroin,
and then criminalizing both
heavily, we could disrupt those
communities.”
John Erlichman 1994
 Brief Summary

https://youtube.com/watch?v=In2lNmBuz94&si=NMHrDmZzdYa
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