13th: A Short Story

As I ran, I felt my foot come down on top of a moss filled rock, and I knew I was in trouble. The slick moss ripped away from the slab of granite and it sent me flying. I knew the fall would be inevitable, and took the it as best I could and prayed for some luck. Branches ripped apart my face, snapping from the contact. Blood flicked up into my eyes. My shoulder made contact with the trunk of a tree as the rest of my body dug into the mud. My legs flipped up over me, crashing into piece of granite bulging out of the ground, pain traveled its way up my leg.

Ava DuVernay’s documentary, 13th, is a powerful analysis of the 13th Amendment included in the United States Constitution. Released October 7th, 2016, 13th depicts African Americans, even after the abolishment of slavery, as legally exploited through the 13th amendment. The goal of the documentary seems to strongly portray to its viewers the manipulation of politics at the expense of Blacks, yet again. 13th effectively demonstrates the struggles African Americans face in the arms of the criminal justice system in a powerful and emotion-provoking manner.

The book I read was 13 Minutes. It was written by Sarah Pinborough. It was 343 pages long.

As my car climbed the hill, my heart sunk into my stomach. I parked as far away from my friends as I could and quickly exited the car, not once looking at them. Now it was every man for himself. Emerging into the open air, I suddenly became aware of myself. I could feel my puffy, blood-shot eyes. My palms became slimy. My fingers clinched into a fist and my nails dug into my skin. My sight blurred and my tunnel of vision tried to focus on the front door. Every step seemed more awkward than the last. Eyes pierced me from all sides. I felt naked. My body trembled like a sheep in the midst of wolves.

The documentary “13th” is very telling about the problems with the prison system and society's view of African-Americans. After the end of slavery, the economy too a hit because of the lack of labor needed for the industries. To solve this problem, people turned to prison workers, because it was cheap labor that weren’t protected under the 13th Amendment. This amendment abolished slavery and indentured servitude, but left the clause of criminal punishment. Because of this loophole, and because whites were very much still in control of society soon after the 13th Amendment was passed, police forces began going after African-Americans in order to fill prisons and satisfy work forces.

Racial inequality extends beyond socioeconomic measures: it shapes social interactions. Filmmaker Ava DuVernay explores the history of racial inequality in the United States, focusing on the fact that the nation’s prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans. The film begins with the fact: “the U.S. is known to hold five percent of the world’s population,” then sharpens into the idea of although this is true, the U.S. also hold “twenty-five percent of the world’s prisoners” (00:00:23-00:00:30). 13th is based on the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which abolished slavery but also included a provision, which the documentary brings to light (00:01:53-00:05:45). The documentary touches on chattel slavery, D.W. Griffith’s

Ernie has always been a little messed up, he has lived in Missouri for the 32 long years of his life. On the day that changed his life forever, November 22, 1996. Him and his family were driving to the mall and they got into an accident. His Mom and Dad both died and Ernie was very depressed. He got the notes, of what made the car accident happen, an inspection failure with the Engine. He did not know what to do with his life. He almost committed suicide, but then out of rage, the decided he was going to make the person who caused the car accident. He went searching for months, and finally came to the conclusion that the person that last assessed the car was Eddie Thompson.

1) After viewing the 13th documentary, I felt helpless, inspired, and stirred to action. Throughout the film, it shows the crucial way white people mistreated black people and how blacks had little to no freedom in America.The message of the film is hopeful and inspiring because it shows that if you want change, you have to fight for it and stand up for yourself. The blacks started to fight for themselves and their rights.

I sprinted off, running a fade route into the endzone. I shook the corner with my speed and looked for the ball. It soared through the air right over me! I jumped as high as I could and my left hand found the ball just like a magnet to metal. Then I got hit. I had held onto the ball through the hit! I was coming down hard...and then it hit me I was falling into the ditch.

They ran around the track for about 30 minutes until Kyana walked over to the track. Kyana has been trying to win a track meets for years. She’s always been jealous of Chloe because other than the past few times, Chloe has always gotten a higher place than Kyana.

My hands were covered in blood.. It was only a matter of time till they caught me.. I could hear the roaring of the wind. The heavy breathing coming from my own chest.. My stomach ached in pain. I could feel the tears beginning to escape from my eyes...

ago in regards to the thirteen amendment that was made some twenty years ago. This amendment

justice system on the black community. The film opens with the harrowing statics spoken by

I ducked down so he could not see me. All I hear was the man running but he didn't make it. The man was dead, his back on the ground, his right leg under him and his one eye open the other with a star shaped hole.

The theme of The Thirteenth Tale is one of the major key points that makes the story feel the way it feels. There are deep elements that come together to make this dark melancholy outlook throughout the story. Many of which are the biggest contributor’s is how the story portrays death, Jane Eyre, loss, and isolation of the characters within the world.