To: President Donald Trump
President Trump: Show 13TH at the next White House movie screening
I’m writing to petition President Trump to devote the next White House film screening to a viewing of 13th, directed by Ava DuVernay. February is Black History Month, and a decision to show 13th, an Oscar-nominated documentary that powerfully exposes the racial injustice at the heart of the US’s system of mass incarceration, would send a powerful message to Americans.
While this may be uncomfortable viewing, an honest engagement with the issues of race and justice in our nation is long overdue. If you really want to be a president for all of the people and not just the few, I challenge you and (especially) your advisors to broaden your horizons by screening 13th and open yourself to its hard truths and calls for justice. It’s streaming on Netflix, so you can watch it any time!
While this may be uncomfortable viewing, an honest engagement with the issues of race and justice in our nation is long overdue. If you really want to be a president for all of the people and not just the few, I challenge you and (especially) your advisors to broaden your horizons by screening 13th and open yourself to its hard truths and calls for justice. It’s streaming on Netflix, so you can watch it any time!
Why is this important?
It is actually clear that the President and (especially) his advisors lack even a basic familiarity with Black History and issues of racial justice. I'm calling on them to use an already existing monthly event to begin to rectify that.