Introduction
It is interesting to watch and discuss the two films, “13TH” and “Food Chains.” Racism has existed in the U.S. penal system since slavery, as depicted in the 13th. Food Chains portrays a life of poverty facing farm workers, mostly Latinos, who harvest our food for little pay. Both movies provide evidence of unfairness vis-à-vis race, class, and ethnicity that result in disadvantages for some individuals. It is important to examine how these factors intersect and yield massive social problems. Systemic inequality still exists because race, class, and ethnicity deeply entrenched within each other reinforce one another over time.
Comparison and Contrast
“13TH” as well as “Food Chains” are a clear indication of the race and class-based discrimination that exists in our world today. For example, African Americans in prisons and Latino farm workers, among others, face similar issues. Frequently, they never get equal opportunities, assistance, or respect like other individuals in their position do, thus making their lives tougher. These difficulties stem from societal structures that are set up to keep them down, thus preventing advancement. Additionally, both these gatherings are portrayed as battling against these despicable standards to enhance their existence. In conclusion, these films illustrate the struggle for fairness and respect amidst deeply engrained social problems.
Commonly, themes of exploitation are shared between the two documentaries; however, the documentaries focus on distinct challenges. The movie reveals how slavery has transformed into mass incarceration with African Americans being the most affected by this system mainly because despite comprising 5% of world population, America holds 25% of its inmates (Ava DuVernay 0:19). Conversely, Food Chains is concerned about how low pay and poor working conditions affect Latino farm workers where tomato pickers are paid a few cents for each pound they harvest (“Food Chains (Full Documentary) in Spanish and English” 27:37). In conclusion these issues have roots in history and are treated differently by society and through laws suggesting unique struggles for both groups.
Analysis
Both documentaries, “13TH” and “Food Chains,” demonstrate the injustice of some systems that hinder people from having a fair shot. In “13th”, a very big problem is the loophole in the 13th amendment, which allows for slavery to continue in prisons (Ava DuVernay 2:00). This policy has resulted in many African Americans getting unfairly locked up. Similarly, “Food Chains” demonstrates how supermarkets’ monopoly on prices forces farmworkers into harsh low paying jobs (“Food Chains (Full Documentary) in Spanish and English” 27:37). These workers hardly make anything out of such hard work as it displays a system that presses them down. Both cases exhibit how these hindrances are entrenched in society and law, thus making it difficult for people to improve their lives. The governments and other stakeholders need to carry out serious reforms on these issues so as to end this injustice.
Government policies, corporate practices, and societal attitudes maintain unfair systems. For instance, “13TH” illustrates how laws have been used to target African Americans, leading to higher rates of imprisonment (Ava DuVernay 0:53). Equally, “Food Chains” demonstrates how the control of prices in supermarkets impoverishes farm workers (“Food Chains (Full Documentary) in Spanish and English” 17:23). These issues do not just revolve around race or class or ethnic groups alone but how these form a combination affecting people’s lives. The kind of society that views such groups also influences their treatment. This is why there is a mixture of government intervention, corporate choices, and public opinion in this country, which makes things very difficult for everyone who suffers as a result of them.
Reflection
It was after my watching and evaluating “13TH” and “Food Chains” that I believed myself to have adequately comprehended the issues concerning inequality and injustice. Nonetheless, these documentaries came as a revelation to me with regard to the underlying problems that I could not grasp fully. When I saw mass incarceration statistics (Ava DuVernay 0:53) as well as food chains’ farmworkers’ plight (“Food Chains (Full Documentary) in Spanish and English” 17:23), they made me know how shallow my views were. Being so naïve, I had thought that the laws were more just and working conditions were better than they actually were. These films force you to start thinking about how society is set up in such a way that it is advantaged by some people while oppressing others. Learning about this has been mind-blowing for me because it forced me to unlearn and unravel the complexities of race, class, and ethnicity. This exposure helped me realize how much these inequalities continue to influence my thinking despite any claim of impartiality I may have made before now.
Both films cinematically enlightened me to the profound problems of inequality that exist in America. In watching these films, I discovered how certain policies and business undertakings make it tough for some people, particularly African Americans as well as Latino farm workers. From what I grasped, it is not only the question of unfair treatment but rather inherent to our society’s structure. How can we reshape this system so it works better for all? This encounter has inspired me to study further the effects race, class, and ethnicity have on individuals’ life chances and ways of making things more equitable for all parties involved.
Conclusion
The documentaries displayed in this section highlight how race, class, and ethnicity deeply affect individual lives in America. They uncover the manner in which legislations and business practices discriminately exclude African Americans as well as Latin American farm laborers. The reason for this is that people should be aware of such disparities and strive to eliminate them. The understanding and solving of these matters will provide an opportunity for a more equitable society for all. Identifying these roadblocks is an initial stage of transformation.
Work Cited
Ava DuVernay. “13th.” Netflix, 17 Apr. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=krfcq5pF8u8.
“Food Chains (Full Documentary) in Spanish and English.” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vw-qTCW8fo&t=3s. Accessed 2 Mar. 2024.
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