This is 13.

Welcome to 13 Then and Now.

In a time when the lives and bodies of black people are in constant wonder of a sense of belonging, a constant battle between the desire to exist and the horror of death—in a time when the black body is constantly in jeopardy by way of excessive force by police, racism at the hands of white supremacist, and genocide by way of systemic oppression, there exists a need among black people to understand their true rights...and that begins with the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

This course offers students a conscientious approach to the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution—encouraging students to define the amendment for themselves, dissect the amendment’s original intentions, and observe the use of the 13th Amendment by way of the Prison Industrial Complex and the progression and/or digression of prison reform, as it relates specifically to inmates of color—psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Students will use the required texts and media to assess their findings and comprehension of the amendment. At the conclusion of the course, students will present a 5-7 minute presentation on their argument either for/or against the prison industrial complex—breaking down what it is, its historical roots, why they agree and/or disagree with the concept, using declarative supporting evidence based on semester readings and research content—in the form of a podcast, short doc, short film, web series and/or television show.

This is 13...Then and Now.