An Issue of Mass Incarceration in The Films When They See Us and 13th

Despite a sustained decline in crime rates in the United States over the past two decades, the country continues to grapple with an exceptionally high rate of incarceration. This predicament is exacerbated by the disproportionate targeting of African Americans and Latino men by law enforcement agencies. Mass incarceration has emerged as a contemporary manifestation of racial segregation, profoundly affecting families and communities. This essay will analyze how the two poignant cinematic works, "When They See Us" and "13th," serve as compelling examples of this deep-seated social injustice.

When They See Us

"When They See Us" provides a glaring illustration of the horrors of mass incarceration and the indifference of the New York Police Department towards the lives of five young individuals of color. These teenagers were wrongfully arrested and charged with the rape and assault of a white female jogger in Central Park, despite their innocence. The series unveils a nightmarish narrative where the police, through coercion and manipulation, extracted false confessions, and the entire criminal justice system conspired to secure convictions. The presumption of guilt was unrelenting, leading to an unjust and fraudulent trial marred by the manipulation of evidence and confessions.

This harrowing tale unearths the trauma inflicted upon families of color entangled in the web of incarceration. It aims to compel the audience to introspect and recognize the gaping inequalities that persist in society. Shockingly, this story, more than three decades old, continues to unfold with impunity, underscoring the persistence of a flawed system. It sheds light on a modern facet of racial discrimination borne out of mass incarceration, which has devastating implications for African American families. The explosion in the U.S. prison population during the 1980s, the era when these events transpired, epitomizes the phenomenon of mass incarceration. This film serves as a stark reminder of the racial prejudices ingrained in society, necessitating a candid conversation about systemic racism in the United States.

13th Documentary

Additionally, the documentary "13th," named after the constitutional amendment that abolished slavery, delves into the sordid history of incarceration as a new form of racial discrimination. It critically examines the roots of the American prison system, tracing its origins back to racism and slavery, and elucidates its role in the surging prison population since the 1970s. The documentary lays bare the fault lines and contradictions in American criminal policy, revealing how historically disadvantaged racial groups, particularly the African American community, have endured a trajectory from legal slavery to exploited prison labor.

"13th" stands as a vital contribution in unraveling the intricacies of the contemporary prison system and its primary targets: young minority men with limited educational opportunities. The director masterfully connects the dots, drawing a direct and unyielding line from the abolition of slavery to the ongoing epidemic of mass incarceration, all underpinned by economic interests.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both cinematic works cast a glaring spotlight on mass incarceration as a modern form of social segregation. They provide a historical perspective on the prison boom, elucidate how inequality compounds across generations, and underscore its disproportionately devastating impact on black communities. These films emphasize the corrosive effects of mass incarceration on civil liberties, effectively undermining the promise of a democracy that should serve all of its citizens equally.

References

1. DuVernay, A. (Director). (2019). When They See Us [Television series]. Participant Media; Tribeca Productions; Harpo Films; Array Filmworks; Netflix.
2. DuVernay, A. (Director). (2016). 13th [Documentary film]. Kandoo Films; Forward Movement; Netflix.
3. Alexander, M. (2010). The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. The New Press.
4. Forman Jr., J. (2017). Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
5. Alexander, E. R. (2012). The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness—A Constitutional and Ethical Review. Stanford Law Review, 64(1), 1-59.