Ijeoma Oluo’s review of Ava DuVernay’s 13th was originally published November 8, before we knew Donald Trump would become our next president. Saturday, you can watch the documentary alongside Oluo at a free screening, which will be followed by a conversation about “racial reconciliation and systemic change.” Here is her review:
The last few days, I’ve been hearing from white people concerned about lower voter turnout of black Americans. Some have implored me to “do my part” to help get out the black vote. Others have reached out to try to understand why—why when there is such risk of a nightmare Trump presidency would black voters not be coming out in droves? Why would so many people come out for Obama in 2008 and 2012 but not come out to stop Trump in 2016? And why are young black people so disenchanted? Are they just naive? Selfish?
And to all those who asked and to all those who have been thinking the same thoughts: First, let me remind you to get out of my mentions. Second, let me remind you that this is our first presidential election without the full protections of the Voting Rights Act, and many of those voters that you may think of as “unenthused” have been prevented or discouraged from voting by states that leapt upon the opportunity to disenfranchise black voters. But beyond that, if that doesn’t suffice, I say this: Watch 13th.