From “N Word” to “Thug”: Modern Slavery in the United States of America
Or The USA: Land of the Free and the Home of the Shackled
On October 7th 2016, African American female director Ava Duvernay released her new documentary “13th” on Netflix, which discusses the American Constitution’s 13th amendment and its ill-spoken caveat:
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”(emphasis).
In 100 riveting minutes, Duvernay is able to thoroughly explain the prison industrial complex in a beautiful and tactful way through the use of various voices.
The film illustrates the outcomes …show more content…
The United States represents only 5% of the world’s population, yet represents 25% of prisoners. African American males represent 35% of the American prison population, while only being 6% of the US population. These facts are astonishing. Other upsetting facts like 1 in 3 black males born today are expected to go to prison during their lifetime, and that, according to the Women’s Donor Network, 95% of elected prosecutors are white, have come to light and have caused unrest in the country. Indeed, police brutality has become a hot topic in the last few years and has led to riots reminiscent of the civil rights era. Much like the long hot summer of 1967, in some media outlets these riots have been depicted in a way that shows protesters as criminals, looters and “thugs”. Similar terms were once used to describe Civil Rights activists Rosa Parks, Assata Shakur, Angela Davis, Fred Hampton, and Martin Luther …show more content…
As revealed in the film, corporations profit from prisoners through their phone calls, meals, healthcare, and their free labour. Under the 13th amendment, prisoners can work for little to no pay for corporations. According to the Global Research, common brands such as Nordstrom’s, Microsoft, Revlon, Macy’s, IBM, Target, and many more use prison labour to create their products. This is where we, as consumers, can make a change by signing petitions and by voting with our wallets. When it came to light that Victoria Secret and JCPenney used prison labour to make their products, there was a public uproar that led to the corporations switching
Or The USA: Land of the Free and the Home of the Shackled
On October 7th 2016, African American female director Ava Duvernay released her new documentary “13th” on Netflix, which discusses the American Constitution’s 13th amendment and its ill-spoken caveat:
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”(emphasis).
In 100 riveting minutes, Duvernay is able to thoroughly explain the prison industrial complex in a beautiful and tactful way through the use of various voices.
The film illustrates the outcomes …show more content…
The United States represents only 5% of the world’s population, yet represents 25% of prisoners. African American males represent 35% of the American prison population, while only being 6% of the US population. These facts are astonishing. Other upsetting facts like 1 in 3 black males born today are expected to go to prison during their lifetime, and that, according to the Women’s Donor Network, 95% of elected prosecutors are white, have come to light and have caused unrest in the country. Indeed, police brutality has become a hot topic in the last few years and has led to riots reminiscent of the civil rights era. Much like the long hot summer of 1967, in some media outlets these riots have been depicted in a way that shows protesters as criminals, looters and “thugs”. Similar terms were once used to describe Civil Rights activists Rosa Parks, Assata Shakur, Angela Davis, Fred Hampton, and Martin Luther …show more content…
As revealed in the film, corporations profit from prisoners through their phone calls, meals, healthcare, and their free labour. Under the 13th amendment, prisoners can work for little to no pay for corporations. According to the Global Research, common brands such as Nordstrom’s, Microsoft, Revlon, Macy’s, IBM, Target, and many more use prison labour to create their products. This is where we, as consumers, can make a change by signing petitions and by voting with our wallets. When it came to light that Victoria Secret and JCPenney used prison labour to make their products, there was a public uproar that led to the corporations switching