Before 13th: A Graphic Novel
This graphic novel is structured as a long dialogue between Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and a handful of side characters. Douglass and Wells have distinct personalities, goals, and emotions. The illustrators vividly portray the characters, skillfully using cinematic techniques to move the story forward.
The dialogue spans a variety of subjects related to slavery, the prison system, and capitalism. The main storyline is about convict forced labor in the Kentucky Penitentiary. This type of slavery is allowed under the 13th Amendment. In the Kentucky example, profits accrue to the state and to the prison warden, a political appointee. It’s a topic that still resonates today, with our modern use of for-profit prisons.
Even for a reader somewhat familiar with the major events of the 1800s, the book’s time jumps and occasional circling back with alternate story lines can be confusing. The author has included an 11-page introduction which lays out the historical facts about hemp production and incarceration in antebellum Kentucky. I’d recommend reading this intro before reading the graphic novel. While the book explores, connects, and explains very important links between capitalism and enslavement (including the prison labor system), it reads like an interesting university lecture. However, shaping this information into a graphic novel format will no doubt make it more accessible for anyone interested in this well-researched topic.
