The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery from the law and from practice but it was unable to abolish white supremacy from the system that upholds the government. This is what director Ana DuVernay explores in her documentary 13th.

While slavery no longer occurs out in the open on southern plantations, it survives in the system of law enforcement and justice departments throughout the United States. DuVernay suggests that slavery hardly missed a beat when it was abolished in 1865, it just shifted gears in a series of laws that targeted black people, especially impoverished black people.

DuVernay invites commentary and conversation from activists, educators and public figures on topics ranging from Jim Crow laws, lynchings, privatized prisons and the war on drugs, among other things. Each interview is compelling as experts, those with lived experience, talk of the systematic racism they have seen and lived through during modern times in the United States.

Statistics suggest that the United States has 5% of the world’s population yet it holds 25% of the world’s population of prisoners. Of that incarcerated population 40% of them are black, even though they make up only 13% of the total population of the United States. This is white supremacy and systematic racism in action.

The documentary was released to critical praise for its well researched material and compelling format. It was nominated for a wide range of awards and took several prominent awards in a number of categories. Though released in 2016, 13th has seen a resurge in viewership, up more than 4000%, with the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement.

If you are curious about the current dialogue and why there are protests and demonstrations, 13th is a great piece to watch. It is one of many documentaries and movies available to begin or continue your path towards understanding why this topic is so important in our current climate and culture.

Be sure to set aside some time to check this documentary out.

Other titles to explore include – Amend, American Son, When They See Us and A Conversation with Oprah and Ana DuVernay.