Best Recent Political Books or Films?

[NatureB]

Hi everyone!

I am looking for some books and films to help better understand this moment we are in. We can all benefit from this list, I believe.

 

Would you guys recommend any specific president's biography from the last 50 years?

What about Van Jones book "Beyond The Messy Truth" or Bakari Sellers book "My Vanishing Country"?

Anything to better understand racism in its enormous complexity?

Also, any general political guidebook? I want to get Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti's book "The Populist's Guide to 2019" but I feel that it would be concerned with facts more than principles, which is not exactly what I want. Don't want to get enmeshed in details, more looking for a general political framework at this early point in my political education. But feel free to share books that do get specific, someone may benefit.

 

Any good documentaries (on Netflix)?

I can recommend "13th" on Netflix. It was so revealing and at parts heart-wrenching. You will learn a ton about the prison system, how it relates to slavery, how the laws are stacked against blacks (and POC) so that 1/3 of young black men can expect to go to jail at least once while that is true for only 1/17 young white men. Systemic Racism is systemic haha. In the worst way.

 

Thanks guys. I hope we can all benefit from such a list.

[Lindsay]

Robert B. Reich’s “The System: Who Rigged it, How we fix it”

Anand Giridharadas’ “Winners Take All: The elite charade of changing the world”

[NatureB]

@Lindsay Sounds like you have read and enjoyed both. Thanks for sharing 

[Epikur]

This is a film review from the socialist guy badempenada. He seems to really like it. 
 

 

[ArchangelG]

Documentaries that I've watch recently and highly recommend.

They all reveal and highlight deep systemic provlems withs the criminal justice system

* Who killed Malcolm x

* The innocence files - about "The Innocence Project", an organisation that helps wrongly convicted. 

* The confession tapes - 

* Trial by media

* Time: The Kalief Browder story - About a kid who was completely fucked by the system. Left me with rage and sadness. 

[SerpaeTetra]

On 6/8/2020 at 10:07 AM, NatureB said:

 

 

Any good documentaries (on Netflix)?

I can recommend "13th" on Netflix. It was so revealing and at parts heart-wrenching. You will learn a ton about the prison system, how it relates to slavery, how the laws are stacked against blacks (and POC) so that 1/3 of young black men can expect to go to jail at least once while that is true for only 1/17 young white men. Systemic Racism is systemic haha. In the worst way.

 

Watched this today after seeing your recommendation; very revealing and sad.  It shows exactly why the US is #1 in incarceration, and a great counter-argument to those who think racism is exaggerated or in the past.  It also shows one reason why so many think its exaggerated - because it was so well hidden after the civil rights movement. 

Edited June 13, 2020 by SerpaeTetra

[SerpaeTetra]

American History X starring Ed Norton - A very enjoyable movie besides the lessons learned. I won't ruin the plot, but you won't be disappointed, whichever side you are on.

Edited June 13, 2020 by SerpaeTetra