Are We Still Fighting Slavery in 2020?

The national discourse surrounding police brutality and the criminal justice system is bringing more attention to the United State’s system of mass incarceration. The U.S. makes up about 4.25% of the total world population, yet 1 out of 5 prisoners in the world are incarcerated in the United States.

Why is that?

On April 8th, 1964, The 13th Constitutional Amendment was passed which stated, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” This meant that slavery was abolished with an exception; the exception of those who have been deemed criminals.

In 2020, as we try to understand police brutality and how it supports mass incarceration, it is essential that we dissect if these systems are feeding into an institution of slavery with a precedent set by the 13th amendment.

Our films Restorative Justice, Justice in Crisis and Immigrant Prisons were produced to ignite and fuel these necessary conversations.

Click Here to use one of our films, bringing our social justice documentaries and curriculum to your classroom.