Ava DuVernay’s “13th” is a gripping documentary that examines the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States. The film takes its title from the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery “except as punishment for a crime,” and deftly traces how this loophole has been exploited to perpetuate systemic racial oppression.
Through compelling interviews, historical footage, and a sobering narrative, 13th connects the dots between slavery, Jim Crow laws, and the modern prison-industrial complex. DuVernay’s hard-hitting exploration of this ongoing injustice is both eye-opening and deeply unsettling, making 13th an essential watch that challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about the criminal justice system and the fight for racial equality.
