ava duvernay really should already have an oscar by now

White people (or NBPOC, for that matter) who rate/review this film unfavorably because it "doesn't say anything we don't already know" need to understand that they as dissenters are not exceptional in their role in this entire fabric. Anti-racism might seem like common sense, but we just ushered into office a man who will undoubtedly continue this reign of white supremacy that has existed in this country for centuries. By not actively speaking out against these powers at play or by remaining neutral, you are inherently contributing to their existence being justified. And if you still don't understand this one basic fact
you've missed the point of the film entirely and there's no helping you.

"The opposite of criminalization is humanization."

4 minutes into this documentary and i was already crying, and i ain't even from the usa. it was incredibly powerful, gut-wrenching, too real and so informative, extremely well done and interesting. 

my heart was aching the whole time, there is no change in america, (edit: for the black community) it has always been the same!!!

edit 2: i apologized to the guy that commented my review to not hurt his feelings, LISTEN people really believe that racism is over when it is clearly not, the black community still struggles to this day and its suffering isn't going to stop today nor tomorrow.

Wish this could be updated every few years to further contextualize this narrative and shed light on developments within the political world surrounding mass incarceration

Amazing documentary on a complex issue. Even for viewers dead set on their own ideologies, this is a thoughtful and moving film.

having little knowledge of US politics (and being a person from the U.K. who can barely comprehend brexit) I had NO IDEA that ALEC existed. politicians and corporations involved in lawmaking??? Together??? who the fuck thought that was a good idea?? 

anyway, let’s get to the point. this doc was incredibly powerful. it’s left me speechless, I don’t think anything i can say here will bring something new to the conversation. but the dialogue must still continue. as the doc says, racism still exists. systemic bias is more than rampant. but they reemerge in new forms, the newest being mass incarceration. i just...it moved me to tears, particularly the part where innocent black people were being straight up killed by police. I hear about these things but never see it. time to leave my bubble and wake up. #blacklivesmatter

Yeah, this is fucked up

Everyone should watch this!!

“systems of oppression are durable, & they tend to reinvent themselves.”

Everyone needs to see it. It’s hard to watch, but that’s why it’s so important. People need to understand the injustice that has gone on for centuries, and that it hasn’t gone away, but merely morphed into a more modern version. I felt anger, sadness, sickness, all emotions that people who experience this injustice everyday feel. We need to open our eyes and make a change.

Way too surface level. This could’ve (and should’ve) been a mini-series that would’ve actually been able to take a deep dive into all the extensive history this documentary tries to cover. As a result, there isn’t enough detail on anything. Points are conveyed before being developed, and you never get the sense that the central thesis (that criminalization is an extension of slavery) is ever the main focus.

A required reading.

And that’s it.