Does Slavery Still Exist in America? 13 Facts from 13th | Netflix

Summary

The video script discusses the disproportionate incarceration of Black men in the US, highlighting historical systems of racial and social control that have evolved from slavery to convict leasing, Jim Crow laws, and the current mass incarceration era. It underscores the media's role in perpetuating stereotypes and the need for societal change to address the systemic injustices faced by African Americans, emphasizing the importance of understanding Black humanity beyond the lens of criminality.

Takeaways

• 🔑 The disproportionate incarceration of Black men in the U.S. is highlighted, with them making up 6.5% of the population but 40.2% of the prison population.
• 🌐 The script discusses the historical pattern of racial and social control systems in America, which have evolved over time to maintain control over African Americans.
• 📜 Post-slavery, the convict leasing system emerged as a new form of slavery, indicating a continuity in oppressive practices.
• 🚫 The Jim Crow laws that followed convict leasing further entrenched racial segregation and the second-class status of African Americans.
• 🔄 The script notes the emergence of mass incarceration as a new system post-Jim Crow, continuing the pattern of systemic oppression.
• 👥 The media's role in perpetuating stereotypes is underscored, with Black individuals being over-represented as criminals, which is not reflective of reality.
• 📊 Shocking statistics are presented, such as one in three young Black males expected to go to jail or prison in their lifetime.
• 🏛 The script points out the lack of understanding among white Americans about the challenges faced by Black people in the U.S.
• 🛡️ Civil Rights Activists were portrayed negatively in the media and by politicians, being labeled as criminals for fighting against segregation.
• 📈 The prison population remained stable for most of the 20th century but saw a significant increase starting in the 1970s, marking the era of mass incarceration.
• 🎖️ The Civil Rights Movement is noted for its strategic use of arrests as a form of protest, redefining the notion of criminality in the public eye.
• 🕊️ The script suggests that reforms often lead to more repression rather than addressing the root causes of systemic issues.

Q & A

What percentage of the US population is made up by Black men?

Black men account for roughly 6.5% of the US population.

What percentage of the prison population in the US are Black men?

Black men make up 40.2% of the prison population in the US.

How does the number of African Americans under criminal supervision compare to the number of slaves in the 1850s?

There are more African Americans under criminal supervision now than there were slaves in the 1850s.

What is the historical pattern of racial and social control systems in America as mentioned in the script?

Throughout American history, racial and social control systems have repeatedly been controlled, died out, and then re-emerged in new forms tailored to the needs and constraints of the time.

What was the system that emerged after the collapse of slavery?

After the collapse of slavery, the convict leasing system emerged, which was a new form of slavery.

What was the system that replaced convict leasing?

The Jim Crow system replaced convict leasing, relegating African Americans to a permanent second-class status.

What is the current system in America that has parallels with past racial control systems?

The current system in America is mass incarceration, which disproportionately affects poor people of color and strips them of rights won in the Civil Rights Movement.

How are Black men portrayed in the media according to the script?

Black men are over-represented in the media as criminals, being shown more times than is statistically accurate based on FBI statistics.

What shocking statistic does the Bureau of Justice report regarding young Black males and the criminal justice system?

The Bureau of Justice reports that one in three young Black males is expected to go to jail or prison during his lifetime.

How did the Civil Rights Movement transform the notion of criminality?

The Civil Rights Movement turned getting arrested into a noble act by voluntarily defining a movement around it, which was a significant shift from the fear associated with being arrested by white people.

What term was used during the Nixon era to describe the approach to crime, which was also a code word for racial politics?

The term used during the Nixon era was 'war on crime,' which was a code word for addressing racial politics, particularly the Black political movements of the day.

What is the general outcome for individuals once they are arrested and convicted according to the script?

Once someone is arrested and convicted, they often become marginalized and are not given much attention or care within society.

What is the criticism of the current prison system in terms of rehabilitation and reintegration into society?

The prison system is criticized for doing very little to rehabilitate inmates, making it difficult for them to re-enter civil society after their release.