Ten years after her landmark political documentary 13th, the film-maker delivers a follow-up on the 14th amendment – and the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle birthright citizenship

Ava DuVernay, acclaimed filmmaker and activist, discusses her new documentary '14th' which examines the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution and its current threats under the Trump administration. The film serves as a follow-up to her 2016 Oscar-nominated documentary '13th', which explored the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery with a loophole allowing for continued oppression of Black Americans. DuVernay explains how the current political climate, marked by Trump's executive order attempting to dismantle birthright citizenship, motivated her to create this new film. She describes witnessing real-life impacts of anti-immigrant policies in her Los Angeles neighborhood, including people being pulled from their cars and others hiding in their homes. The documentary features over 50 interviews with a diverse range of voices including historians, constitutional experts, politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and even a 22-year-old livestreamer. DuVernay emphasizes the importance of the 14th Amendment's provisions, particularly regarding birthright citizenship, and how various sections of the amendment are being systematically attacked. The film also explores the historical context of Reconstruction era following the Civil War, when formerly enslaved people gained political power before facing violent backlash. DuVernay acknowledges the controversial use of AI to animate historical photographs, defending it as a means to bring historical images to life without fabrication. She concludes by stating her goal is simply to 'turn on a little light' in what she describes as America sitting in a 'dark, dangerous room,' emphasizing the importance of remembering history to combat rising authoritarianism globally. The film is set for release in cinemas on November 27 and on Netflix on December 4.

Ava DuVernay's '14th' examines the power of the 14th Amendment to guarantee citizens' rights, and Congress' ongoing failure to enforce it.

How a Supreme Court ruling declaring that Black Americans held “no rights which the white man was bound to respect” forced citizenship into the Constitution itself

Good morning, this is Really American. It’s Tuesday, October 13th.

YouTube video by Resistance History with Tad Stoermer

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