Ayannah Newton

The film “13th” by filmmaker Ava DuVernay was release on Netflix in October of 2016. “13th” is one of many on Netflix that bring awareness to racial inequality in the U.S. It specifically focuses on disproportionate rates at which African Americans are convicted in the States. The purpose of the film was to bring awareness to the affects that the 13th Amendment, as well as the Jim Crow laws and segregation have of on today’s conviction rates. Most people are aware that the 13th Amendment abolished slavery. However, it states “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist.” The exception basically means that forced labor, which is what slavery was, is justified as long as the person doing labor is a convicted criminal. Most schools in the U.S. don’t teach that part of it. The film presents the issue of the exception within the 13th Amendment serving as a loophole for continued domination over the black community, as well as other people of color, in this country.

“NOW MORE THAN EVER

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER HAS NEVER BEEN MORE VITAL THAN IT IS IN THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY. WATCH AVA DuVERNAY’S 13TH, AND THEN TAKE ACTION.”

The poster above is one of many created by Netflix to bring awareness to the film and the issues presented within it as a form of protest. Netflix created a website solely dedicated to giving viewers free access to download posters like the one above. The website also provides other graphics (png’s) available for download which allows the audience to create their own posters.

Visit for more “13th” posters:

https://beyond13th.com/