In regards to the documtnary 13th, by Ava Duvernay, the theme of power drives the narrative on the 13th Amendement. Those who hold the power make the rules, as mentioned in The System, “patriarchy is a way of organizing social life through which such wounding, failure, and mistreatment are bound to occur” (Johnson 36). The system doesn’t break but evolves to benefit itself, it reforms. He describes the stages of mistreatment by minorities in America, from slavery to the Jim Crow Era to the systematic imprisionment of minorities, Duvernay sytematically displays the oppresion through imprisionment of those that can’t afford to escape the flawed social/justice system. The director makes indesputible points through experts and research, she engages the audience to imagine beyond their experience and to recognize those affected by racial violence. After watching this film and completing the readings, I wonder about those that are mixed race since they are not represented in the power struggle represented in the documentary. At what point do you identify with one race/culture over another? As mentioned in The System, “patriarchy is more than how people think, feel, and behave (Johnson 36). This oppresion is not tied to minorities specifically but is also apparent in gender disparities.
Power is the driving force of systematic oppresion in America from slavery to the prison inductrial complex.
Tricia's thoughts 
The point at which someone identifies with a specific culture/identity is definitely an interesting point to bring up. With more and more focus on certain groups or communities sometimes being spurred from the patriarchy, it really draws to attention the almost black and white view point sometimes. Do you believe that, in response to your quote from Johnson, by having multiple views and/or culture influences in regards to identity – That power is decreased even slightly for the individuals thinking?
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One definition of “power” is simply the ability to get others to do what you want them to do. This can be accomplished by force or coercion, or it could be accomplished by “softer” more ideological means. Given this definition of power, what does it mean to say “power is the driving force of systematic oppression?” Is “power” an agent or an effect of action?
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