MovieChat Forums > 13th (2016) Discussion > One issue with the documentary

One issue with the documentary


I thought it was great, but I feel like it could have delved deeper into the underlying driving factor for institutional racism, which is Capitalism. It did brush on it a little in but I felt it could have linked the connection to it more

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I agree. I noticed they made no mention of slavery ending not because white Americans in the North suddenly developed a conscience, but because the institution of slavery was a threat to capitalism. The marginalization of people of color, particularly black people, has always been about rich white men getting richer.

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Exactly!! Thank you!! But you know how it is in this country, the white man somehow is always portrayed as "The Great White Hope", when they have been the root of the problem in the first place.

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There are elements of that. The part about how with the loss of slavery, the South needed cheap labor to rebuild. So, other institutions were created to keep that free labor. Then, it also talks about the money surrounding prisons. I am not convinced capitalism and equality can't co-exist.

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Oh I agree, the definitely can coexist. I don't think Capitalism is inherently bad, but when it begins to overshadow humanity, then it leads to some of the social problems we have today. Even Socialist countries still have issues of racism, but putting a handle on how far Capitalism can influence society would be a start in the right direction

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It's hinted all throughtout the documentary. I think you were expecting more of fingerpointing.

English is my second language. Sorry for any mistake

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