In light of the latest civil rights protests taking over not only the United States, but the entire world, Netflix has released a Black Lives Matter collection of films, TV shows and documentaries exemplifying important figures, crucial information, criminal justice system corruption and black filmmakers and actors.

Here are some important documentaries and series that educate on the racial injustice and corruption within the criminal justice system:

13th (2016)

“13th” explores the evolution of systemic racism within the United States from slavery, to Jim Crow laws to mass incarceration. Beautifully executed by director, Ava DuVernay, the documentary displays compelling visuals and statistics regarding the rising prison rates.

It argues that with the 13th Amendment’s abolition of slavery, declaring all people free unless found guilty of criminal actions, bore the earliest acts of racism within the criminal justice system with incarcerating as many Black people as possible.

The documentary discusses important civil rights leaders and timelines along with various political acts such as the war on drugs, which heavily targets minority communities. Some of its most gripping scenes come with side-by-side videos from the Jim Crow era in comparison with the horrifyingly similar clips taken in recent years.

If you are looking for something filled with educational information regarding the racial disparity in the prison system and the earliest ideals on which it was based, “13th” will not disappoint.

Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story (2020)