As soon as I realized that the fall semester of my sophomore year would not be “normal,” I knew I didn’t want to go back to school. I dreaded the thought of being confined in my dorm, social-distanced to the point of isolation from the friends and student life that makes college fun. When my school decided to go completely remote and not let anyone return to campus, my decision to take the semester off was practically made for me. ...

Ava DuVernay’s documentary film “13th” explores the history of systemic racism in the United States, specifically in the prison system and prison-industrial complex. She takes us through a timeline of American history, showing each step that lead to the immensely corrupt prison system we have today. DuVernay paints this powerful picture using profound quotes from interviews with powerful public figures, as well as activists — many of these...