The relationship between each of these systems says a lot about the disguised intentions of corporations and government organizations, outlining the significance of breaking the continued pattern of oppression that unfortunately lies on top of this countrys strong foundation of racism. Pieces such as 13th are so valued because they voice the importance of movements like Black Lives Matter, which strive against systemic racism. Considering the fact that the systems themselves are failing, its ultimately up to the people to set things right.

One of the most effective tools in persuading citizens to fight for Black rights is empathy. No one will ever truly understand the struggles faced by the Black community other than those within it, but remembering the stories of murdered individuals has the effect of garnering an emotion as close to empathy as possible. People including Emmett Till, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Kalief Browder, Oscar Grant, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Sam DuBose, Freddie Gray, Jason Harrison, Laquan McDonald, Eric Harris and Philando Castile were among those mentioned in the documentary, along with clips of their murders.

Van Jones, founder of Dream Corps and one of the activists featured, explains the difference between what has changed and what hasnt: The difference now is somebody can hold up one of these [phones], get whats going on, they can put it on YouTube and the whole world has to deal with it. Thats whats new. Its not the protests, its not the brutality, its the fact that we can force a conversation about it.

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'13th' advocates humanization over criminalization The Daily Campus - UConn Daily Campus