The 2016 documentary "13th," directed by Ava DuVernay, explores the history of racial inequality and and argues mass incarceration of Black people is an extension of slavery. The subject is just what Riverton School librarian Amy Penwell and others in her community wanted to explore, especially now.
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"As a middle-aged white person, there is a need for some foundational education. There's a lot of information that has been sort of pushed to the side or not brought to the forefront in terms of our history," she said.
Penwell was inspired a collaboration between the Riverton police department and students from Palmyra High School, who organized a similar event. Working in Riverton and residing in nearby Moorestown, Penwell adds, made this discussion mandatory for her.
"Both towns have a lot in common, predominately white, not exclusively reasonably affluent," she described. "There's a lot of work that we as white people have to do to get up to speed to really understand how people's lives have been affected by structures that we think have to be."
The group watch takes place on June 25 at 7 p.m. with a discussion to follow. 13th is currently streaming on Netflix.