Watch This Doc: Episode 1
These are great documentaries that I love, that you can watch for free!
I’m sharing 13th as part of a blog series where I highlight documentaries that are available to watch for free online. My goal is to make important information more accessible and to encourage learning, reflection, and conversation around issues that impact all of us.
13th is a powerful and eye-opening documentary directed by Ava DuVernay that dives deep into the U.S. prison system and how it's been shaped by racism and systemic injustice. The title refers to the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery—except as a punishment for crime. That loophole became the foundation for a system that continued to oppress Black people under the guise of criminal justice.
Through interviews with scholars, activists, politicians, and formerly incarcerated individuals, 13th traces a clear line from slavery to mass incarceration. It breaks down how, after the Civil War, Black people were criminalized in large numbers to fill prisons and provide cheap labor. The film shows how that evolved into the prison industrial complex we know today—fueled by policies like the War on Drugs and the rise of for-profit prisons.
The documentary uses archival footage, statistics, and expert commentary to make its case, but it never feels dry. It’s emotional, informative, and at times, enraging. It challenges viewers to think about how punishment and profit are deeply connected in America, and how racial bias has been baked into the system from the very beginning.
Whether you know a little or a lot about the criminal justice system, 13th will probably teach you something new—and leave you with a lot to think about. It’s a must-watch for anyone trying to understand how past injustices still shape the present.