Documentary Reflection Paper

13th: Documentary Reflection Paper Author’s Name The Institutional Affiliation Course Number and Name Instructor Name Assignment Due Date Introduction The United States of America (US) underwent significant social reforms since independence. The national history, identity warfare, and continuous struggle for inclusivity are centralized focuses of the government and regulatory bodies while reforming a social structure through sustainable policies (Zeira, 2022). The American government continuously struggles to achieve social harmony and equality for marginalized communities. The ‘Affordable Care Act (ACA)’ and the ‘War on Drugs’ are a few examples that signify America’s efforts to improve national social structure by imposing inclusive policies and protecting cultural ideologies in the long run (Alam & Mohanty, 2023). This paper will reflect on a famous documentary film, ‘13th,’ directed by Ava DuVernay in 2016. The discussion will centralize social policy concepts, organizational advocacy on applications, and interventions from cultural ideologies in the US. Discussion Major Events and Findings 13th was a fundamental masterpiece when defining social reform and historical events in the US. For instance, the film featured the Civil War and the initiation of Black Codes in the US, leading to the ‘Civil Rights Movement.’ This event signifies the legacy of slavery in the US and racial controls deployed against the Black community (Beatrice, 2022). Besides, the 1980s War on Drugs also influenced social reform in the US. The event highlighted the systematic targeting of Black communities by the American government, regulatory bodies, and law enforcement agencies (LEAs). The evidence suggests that drug consumption and merchandizing had no racial or social boundaries in the US that compromised Black communities due to social stereotyping (Beatrice, 2022). Application of Social Policy Concepts 13th revolves around various social policy concepts and theoretical frameworks. The narration used the systematic racism concept in the American social structure, influencing the Black communities nationwide. The narration presented the focused discrimination by LEAs and regulatory bodies while convicting a Black suspect for a minor felony, and White crimes of large scales were attended with neutrality (Festa, 2022). Besides, the movie also featured a concept of disenfranchisement towards African Americans. The creator illustrated that African Americans with a criminal history were prohibited from voting participation. The American government restricted voting from Black communities to demonstrate social value and malpractices in the structural environment (Ingham, 2023). Hence, the 13th applied different social concepts to define the anti-Black movement in the US. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Film Ava DuVernay presented a masterpiece to the audience while illustrating the social policies and reforms in traditional America. Thorough research was the primary strength of the movie. Ava DuVernay used historical photos, meaningful interviews of social influencers, statistical insights, and comprehensive illustrations to entertain and educate audiences. The documentary resonated with mass audiences and educated young Americans about social mal...