Ava DuVernay's Latest Project
Ava DuVernay, the acclaimed filmmaker behind Selma and 13th, has announced her latest project: a documentary exploring the 14th amendment and its significance in granting liberty and rights to formerly enslaved people. The documentary, titled 14th, will be released on Netflix later this year.
The 14th amendment, ratified in 1868, states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. This amendment nullified the 1857 Supreme Court decision Dred Scott v Sandford, which had held that those descended from enslaved people couldn't be citizens.
The Importance of the 14th Amendment
The 14th amendment has played a crucial role in shaping the United States' understanding of citizenship and equality. It has been invoked in numerous landmark cases, including Brown v Board of Education, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The amendment has also been used to protect the rights of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.
Despite its significance, the 14th amendment has faced numerous challenges, including those from Donald Trump. In his second term, Trump signed an executive order that would have heavily restricted birthright citizenship as protected by the amendment. However, the Supreme Court struck down the order by a 6-3 vote, upholding the protections of the amendment.
DuVernay's Vision
Ava DuVernay's documentary, 14th, promises to provide a nuanced exploration of the 14th amendment and its ongoing relevance. According to DuVernay, the film will detail how the 14th amendment became a "permanent argument" and feature politicians, historians, and cultural voices. DuVernay has stated that her film will ask what kind of country is being written beneath our feet now, while we're busy believing the stories we've all been told.
As DuVernay noted, "If 13th asked who gets caged, then 14th asks who gets counted." This statement highlights the documentary's focus on the ongoing struggles for equality and citizenship in the United States. By exploring the 14th amendment and its significance, DuVernay's documentary aims to provide a timely and thought-provoking examination of the country's values and principles.
The Ongoing Debate
The release of 14th comes at a time when the debate over birthright citizenship and the 14th amendment continues to simmer. Trump has vowed to continue contesting the Supreme Court's ruling, calling it a "miscarriage of justice" that will "destroy America" if not changed. The ongoing debate highlights the enduring significance of the 14th amendment and the need for continued discussion and exploration of its implications.
As the United States continues to grapple with issues of citizenship, equality, and justice, Ava DuVernay's documentary, 14th, promises to provide a timely and thought-provoking examination of the 14th amendment and its ongoing relevance. By exploring the amendment's history, significance, and challenges, DuVernay's documentary aims to inspire critical thinking and reflection on the values and principles that shape the United States.