All In: The Fight for Democracy

Just a heads up that this documentary is currently being review-bombed currently across multiple platforms by bots and people who have not actually watched the documentary.

This documentary is really well done. It goes over the entire history of the right to vote within the United States from beginning to current events. It goes over the right to vote for women and for African Americans. It also goes over the times when we have stepped backwards on that right, such as the Chinese exclusion act, that have caused harm to that right.

It's an extremely eye opening documentary that tries to explain why the right to vote is something worth continually monitoring and continually fighting for to ensure fair and honest elections.

Other people reviewing this documentary are trying to say it's biased in some way; I disagree. I think that it does a pretty good job at explaining suppression events that have happened and how it's a concern for anyone regardless of their political views. The events they show are wrong regardless of the party involved. The documentary tries to shine a light on that fact to encourage more people to use their right to vote.

Unfair, undemocratic, biased, discriminatory, immoral, partisan, autocratic, oppressive; with a common denominator the world over - white middle aged and older men, who are the curse of freedom, truth and democracy (obvs. not all of them). They've been around a while, just search for 'A Rotten Borough' online to find out more.

Being able to vote as a legitimate resident in any country should be as easy as going outside and holding up your arm. If your views are then reflected in representatives appointed through proportional representation, you have democracy. Break either of those rules and, as much as you'd like to think otherwise, you're under the control of others and, most likely, through men with the common attributes and characteristics previously alluded to - another one of them being they don't like your right to vote if you're not like them.

You could argue it's preachy, but it's preachy for a very good reason.

While the presentation isn't too flashy either, this compellingly and coherently breaks down many of the current problems with the voting system in the USA, focusing on (but not always limited to) minority groups.

I learnt a good deal from watching this, and the way it cut back and forth between historical events in the America's past regarding voting rights and what was happening in the present day was really well done.

Great interviews, great editing, and great information. It's a little in terms of visuals and entertainment value, and some people are unfortunately going to remain unswayed by the arguments presented, but I thought it was a very good and extremely relevant documentary that's worth a watch in these trying times.

Greetings again from the darkness. Stacey Abrams is a generational spokesperson, and may very well be the future of the Democrat Party. This despite being recently passed over as Joe Biden's running mate. Ms. Abrams is a producer on this film co-directed by Lisa Cortes (HIP HOP X FASHION, 2019) and Liz Garbus (nominated for 2 Oscars: WHAT HAPPENED MISS SIMONE, 2015 and THE FARM: ANGOLA, USA, 1998). She also appears on camera numerous times speaking to us about voter suppression - something which impacted her directly.

The film provides an historical look at the different ways voters have been suppressed and elections manipulated over the years - dating back to 1789, when the film informs, only 6% of the population was eligible to vote: white male property owners. We hear from many historians, authors, politicians, and activists, yet it's Ms. Abrams who stands out. She takes us through her personal background and describes in detail the influence her parents had on her. We also learn much about the 2016 Georgia Governor's race, where Ms. Abrams faced off against Brian Kemp. In one of the more startling statistics, we are told that as Georgia Secretary of State, Mr. Kemp purged 1.4 million voters from the Georgia registry.

A true history lesson on voter suppression is provided, with much of the lesson and commentary provided by Ms. Abrams and author Carol Anderson, who wrote the 2018 book, "One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression is Destroying Democracy". We also hear from others, including 88 year old Andrew Young, one of the leaders of the Civil Rights movement, and a former Mayor of Atlanta and former US Ambassador to the United Nations.

So many aspects of United States elections are discussed, and these include the Reconstruction era after the Civil War, the 19th Amendment, President Lyndon Johnson and Voting Rights Act, Gerrymandering, Voter ID requirements, Poll taxes and literacy tests, and the landmark 2013 case, Shelby County v Holder, resulting in a US Supreme Court decision that has impacted voter access. We see clips of the 30th anniversary of the Walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, and it's clear Civil Rights and Voting Rights are forever bound.

The documentary is important as it connects history with the modern day issues resulting in voter suppression. Ms. Abrams and Ms. Armstrong are vital voices on a topic that should have been laid to rest many years ago; yet as long as the thirst for political power exists, manipulation of the system will be attempted. So, it's important that every citizen understand how this happens and what to be aware of.

Much of the documentary covers familiar ground - the abolition of slavery, the progress during reconstruction, and then the restriction of opportunities to vote by means both legal and illegal. In that regard, the documentary repeats a host of documentaries already out there - such as "13th".

What makes this documentary worthwhile is that it sticks to a basic point: it doesn't matter if you're republican or democrat, we should all agree on the basic principle of democracy - one person, one vote, and that all people in good standing should be able to vote. If you accept that premise then it's important to defend it, no matter your political views. Democracy is not a single, simple pure thing. It's messy. Various elites seek to capture the process. Preventing that is not easy.

The film's greatest strength is its moving portrayal of the cost of democracy, It's not just about turning up to vote on the day - it's also about making sure you get the chance to do that. That's takes effort, but that's the price of freedom.

Again, whatever your political views, make sure you have the chance to vote - it's your duty.