Diversity student programs holds a watch party for the documentary film “13th” last Wednesday, Memorial Union Preston Family Room. The documentary captured the nation’s history of inequality in race.
The Diversity Student Programs hosted a showing of the documentary “13th” last Wednesday in the Memorial Union, followed by a discussion, as part of Black History Month. The film, made by Ava DuVernay, reveals the history of racial inequality in the United States by focusing on the fact that the country’s prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans.
“I think it is mind blowing for a lot of our students to know that the prisons target mostly black and brown individuals,” said Deanna Williams, director of Diversity Student Programs.
Cale Bolen, senior political science major, who was in attendance and assistant to Williams, believes the film can be a source of motivation to push for human rights.
“I think it can be extrapolated on such a big level to not just the black community, but the LGBTQ community and religious oppression,” Bolen said.
Williams chose to show the film to students after being approached by Chase Sossi, senior English major and a member of Sigma Phi, who shared it with her.
“I figured I couldn’t be the only one shocked by learning everything the documentary showed so I thought a showing on campus would be beneficial to the community to learn more about the topic,” Sossi said.
The film reveals how systemic racism and oppression is deeply rooted in America and Sossi stressed that it is important for students and individuals to pay attention to issues that might not personally affect them.
“Injustice isn’t always going to be convenient to avoid or play down,” Sossi said.
The film has had an impact in spreading awareness on the issue, according to Williams.
“Some students just aren’t educated on mass incarceration,” Williams said.
Williams hopes the students will impact change now that they know more about mass incarceration.
“If they see people being disrespected, I hope they will stand up for what’s right,” Williams said.
Bolen expressed that the most important point from the film was from a quote from John Ehrlichman, an advisor of Nixon, who purposefully portrayed the black community as being addicted to heroin.
Sossi hopes the film has brought greater awareness of the issue.
“I hope it shows people that it’s not all in our heads and that something wrong is actually happening,” Sossi said.
The film, “13th,” is available to watch on Netflix.