The 13th

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The 13th

The film argues that there is a direct link between American slavery and modern American prison system. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

This documentary is an eye opener and it gives a very great insight into history of slavery as well as the prison system and how it has developed up-to now. It is true that the link between American slavery system and modern prison system is very close and cannot really be separated. In summary it can be said that American slavery system is what has become to a larger degree the modern American prison system. The issue of slavery was one of the most touching ones and it relates the current prison system whereby mass incarceration is used and so many people and unnecessarily put behind bars. This paper therefore discusses the reasons why American slavery and modern American prison system are related and are almost similar.

Slavery is ended after the 13th amendment to the United States constitution. However it was very difficult for the whites to get to know what they could do with the many black people who were free. Therefore after the 13th amendment there was the criminalisation of a lot of things which the black people did. For example something like loitering around or looking at a white woman lustfully was considered crimes and black people could be jailed for the same. It was the very first time there was a large number of criminals in the United States which in real sense was made and was not true. However even before this wen African Americans were property they were not allowed to do some things and the same was extended within the context of the law and not within slavery.

This means that African Americans were free but in real sense they had got from one prison just to the other one. The American prison system has developed over the years and even with all the developments there is still a problem since most of the African Americans still get treated negatively through systemic racism. One of the most developed myth and misconception among white ladies is that African males are rapists and this most of the times keeps African men being crucified for a crime they never did. This developed all the way from the time of slavery up to today and there is a lot of injustice within the American society since most of the times the crimes committed by whites are ignored while those committed by black people are amplified and reported.

From 1970s there was a change in the American prison system and there was mass incarceration which began happening and this was not good especially for the black Americans. The black Americans are most of the times tried in injustice cases or injustice ways and what happens is that they are the ones who end up filling the prisons of the United States which is a raising concern in the world. United States of America has 5% of the world’s population, however its prisons hold 20% of the whole world’s prisoners and this is a very big issue even in international status. Therefore as slavery diminished the respect and the good part of black people the same continues even up to today and a good example is the killing of George Floyd and the manner in which people reacted. This shown that there were deep seated grievances and when they got a way to express them they came all the way out.

In conclusion, it is true that American slave system is very much related to the present day prison system and it mainly affects the blacks while the whites enjoy the freedom from being seen as criminals almost every time as the blacks are seen. The 13th therefore is a wake up all to everyone to bring forward racial justice together and make sure that everyone is treated in a fair manner.

Reference

Terry, E. (2017). Review of 13th: Narratives of the Current United States. Tapestries: Interwoven voices of local and global identities, 6(1), 20.