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FinalPresentation12.pptxModern Slavery
Luis Barrio
Professor Chambless
ENC 1102
In the film 13th, Ava DuVernay exhibits mass incarceration, the war on drugs, and ALEC to show that she is not mistaken, and that the Criminal Justice System needs serious reformations in order for there to be equality between civilians in the United States.
Thesis
Mass Incarceration
Mass incarceration in the United States started right after amendment 13 was passed with a loophole that your freedom can be taken away from you if you perform a crime. Lawmakers and the criminal justice system quickly made use of that and started to incarcerate African Americans for minor offenses and used them to perform almost free labor for corporations.
Strauss, Valerie. “Mass Incarceration of African Americans Affects the Racial Achievement Gap - Report.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 18 Apr. 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/03/15/mass-incarceration-of-african-americans-affects-the-racial-achievement-gap-report/
The War on Drugs
President Richard Nixon first introduced “The War on Drugs” which is a policy that enforces stricter laws on drug offenses, even the minor ones by passing harsher sentencing laws, longer sentences and especially for low-level drug offenses. This policy drastically affected the black community and incarcerated many because the laws are stronger for African Americans giving them longer sentences and another reason for police officers to send them to jail.
Pearl, Betsy. “Ending the War on Drugs: By the Numbers.” Center for American Progress, 27 June 2018, https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/criminal-justice/reports/2018/06/27/452819/ending-war-drugs-numbers/
ALEC
ALEC otherwise known as the American Legislative Exchange Council is a group of politicians and corporations working together to make laws that benefit themselves ultimately. ALEC passed one of their most famous law called “Stand your ground law” this law gives a person the right to use deadly force “if he or she reasonably believes that using or threatening to use such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or injury”. This law directly benefits Walmart (beneficiary) as they are one of the largest sellers of long guns and firearm ammunition (DuVernay).
Elk, Mike, and Bob Sloan. “The Hidden History of ALEC and Prison Labor.” The Nation, 29 June 2015, https://www.thenation.com/article/hidden-history-alec-and-prison-labor/
Conclusion
The Criminal Justice System needs serious reformations in order for there to be equality between civilians in the United States.
The only way we can achieve reformations in the Justice System is through the people.
Don’t be afraid to learn your rights and exercise peaceful protests.
