13th — Please Watch This Now
Date watched: July 15, 2020
Date released: 2016
Director: Ava DuVernay
Where to watch: Netflix and check this article for other places to watch
This is not going to be like one of my normal reviews.
I’m not gonna rate this movie or have humorous elements or talk about the technical sides of this movie.
This is way more important than that. This is something everyone needs to see right now. With all of the protesting and fight for equality going on around the world right now, it is your responsibility to be educating yourself on these issues. In a world where we can look up anything, see news happen in real time, and connect with people all over the world there is no excuse not to be educating yourself in this time. It doesn’t take long and I promise you it isn’t hard.
This movie is one I will never forget. I learned so much that I am ashamed to have not known before watching this. I consider myself an activist, and this movie humanized me in a new way to why I, and many others, chose to fight.
Quite frankly, you need to watch this. I don’t care if you’re worried it’s going to be boring, if you won’t learn anything new, or you don’t feel that involved in this issue. Watch this movie. Even if you feel like you know everything you can about the criminal justice system in the United States and the Black Lives Matter protests going on. Especially if you don’t know anything about the criminal justice system or the Black Lives Matter protests going on or are opposed to it. I give you no sympathy for a lack of effort to educate yourself.
This movie is only 1 hour and 40 minutes. Get over it.
Use this opportunity to educate yourself on this issue and start becoming active. Let yourself get mad. Let yourself cry. Let yourself feel hopeless. Sit with that discomfort.
And then, do something about it.
If you want a place to start: here is a link to an 37 page document with things to educate yourself.
Even though I will never be able to understand your struggles: I see you, I hear you, I support you, I fight for you, and I love you.
July 15, 2020