The 13th garnered acclaim from a number of film critics. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 89th Academy Awards, and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards.  However, I would like to provide a discretionary warning: The following film contains scenes that some viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8&t=1s 

13th Amendment of the US Constitution says:

"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."

The exception indicated in language of the 13th amendment was used, to once again, enslave African Americans and other minorities.  Once a person was convicted of a crime, they could be used for free labor, against their free will.  They lost all rights as a citizen and once again became property.  Big businesses entered into contracts with the prisons to obtain the free labor.  This is called convict leasing.  Free labor from the prison system is still practiced today. 

This system created all sorts of laws that applied only to blacks.  They were called the black codes.  It became a crime to look a white person in the face.  It was a crime to stand around and talk with other blacks.  Just about anything was considered a crime.  There was no due process.  Notions of fairness and justice only applied to whites.  This is also known as the Jim Crowe era.  This is the beginning of mass incarcerations in the United States, sanctioned by the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution.  

After watching the documentary on the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, please answer the following questions:

1. What is the most shocking part of the documentary?
2. What are Jim Crow Laws?  Who is Jim Crow?
3. What divisions in the country, still existed during the reconstruction?
4. How did the southern states determine what was a crime?
5. In the documentary, are the laws applied the same to all citizens?  Please explain how they either are or are not, according to the documentary.
6.  

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

1The most shocking part of the documentary might vary for different viewers but the exploitation of ... View the full answer