The Netflix documentary called the \u201c13th\u201d, is a film that shows elements of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the US. The documentary argues that the \u201cWar on Drugs\u201d which was started in the late 1900s, targeted and harmed communities of color. It also goes into detail about the racial inequalities that come with that, the policies that led to mass incarceration, and how individuals and communities are still impacted to this day.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This campaign was initially a \u201cWar on Crime\u201d and was put in place to reduce the crime rate in the US and strived to make Americans feel safer in their own country. This campaign then aimed at reducing drug abuse as well as the associated crimes that went with taking these drugs, now named the \u201cWar on Drugs\u201d. This started mandatory sentences for drug offenses, “three-strikes” laws, and other policies that resulted in very long prison sentences, especially for non-violent drug offenders. This then led to the fallout of anti-drug legislation that included a significant increase in the incarceration rate in the United States. While the policies might have been presented as a response to the so-called drug crisis, they were also used as a tool to target and criminalize people specifically of color. This led to the campaign being called the \u201cWar on People\u201d. The question of whether these consequences were accidental or part of a deliberate effort to control minority communities is then brought up. This can be seen as a legal way to discriminate against black people and minorities because of the fact that there were higher arrest and imprisonment rates for African Americans and Latinos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legacy of the War on Drugs continues to affect communities of color because many of them can\u2019t find housing and employment after serving time in prison. The policies have also had long-lasting and damaging effects on individuals and even communities to this day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Netflix documentary called the \u201c13th\u201d, is a film that shows elements of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the US. The documentary argues that the \u201cWar on Drugs\u201d which was started in the late 1900s, targeted and harmed communities … Continue reading