Film Review: “All In: The Fight for Democracy” Understands the Power of Voting
When the United States declared itself a sovereign nation in 1776, the only people eligible to vote were property owners. These voters were male, Protestant, and, most notably, White. And due to these restrictions, only six percent of the population had a say in American politics. That meant the livelihoods of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people were in the hands of a small but powerful elite. But over time, women and people of color of all stripes managed to gain the right to vote due to large scale social movements in the 19th and 20th century. Politicians such as former President of the United States Barack Obama and Senator Elizabeth Warren would not be where they are today without the work of activists like civil rights leader John Lewis and suffragist Ida B. Wells.
But the fight for the right to vote is not over. With the decimation of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, voter suppression tactics such as gerrymandering and mandatory voter ID laws have made it difficult for millions of people to vote. Within eight years, the very people who helped Obama win the White House in 2008 were unable to vote in the election of Donald Trump. Fortunately, political activists like Stacey Abrams are doing their part to stop voter suppression. And with award-winning documentarians Lisa Cortés and Liz Garbus, the history of voter suppression in the United States will finally get scrutinized in the timely film All In: The Fight for Democracy.
The documentary opens on the 2018 Georgia's gubernatorial race between Democrat Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp. Poised to become the first black female governor in the United States, Abrams goes all-in as she fights to win the governor's mansion. She campaigns everywhere, tells heartfelt stories, and gains the endorsements of high profile figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Obama. But despite having all the makings of a great politician, systematic racism and voter suppression hold her back. On election day, thousands of voters face long lines at the polls, massive voter roll purges, and incompetent poll workers. As the night wears on, Abram realizes her chances of winning the race is not possible. And so, she has no other choice but to concede the election to Kemp. Sadden but not defeated, this event inspires the politician to help underserved Americans fight for their right to vote. And it is this story and the stories of many others that lay the groundwork for All In.
Though the documentary's main focal point is Abram's election, All In highlights several people fighting to end voter suppression. These people include Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Desmond Meade and Co-executive Director of Lucha Alejandra Gomez. By turning the camera on these everyday Americans, the filmmakers show that ending voter suppression can happen on the grassroots level. For instance, Desmond's work enables him to help formerly incarcerated people in Florida regain their voting rights. Whereas, Gomez and her volunteers work diligently to get people from Latinx communities to register and vote racist politicians like Joe Arpaio out of office. The filmmakers also interview an impressive list of talking heads, including former Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder, civil rights leader Andrew Young; and, Emory University professor and author of the book, One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression Is Destroying Our Democracy, Carol Anderson.
With its use of archival footage, interviews, and high-end graphics, All In gives viewers a comprehensive look into how voter suppression affects communities of color in the United States. From the Reconstruction era to Jim Crow laws to the civil rights movement, the film meticulously depicts the events that help and deters people from voting. And although the documentary covers an overwhelming amount of material, Cortés and Garbus keep the energy up by moving back and forth between Abram's life story, the activists fighting voter suppression, and the history of voting rights. By weaving these three main storylines together, the film shows how the fight for voting rights is just as American as our Founding Fathers. Like our former 44th president of The United States, Abrams is a byproduct of the civil rights movement – she even says so herself. So, it is only fitting that the activist helps people secure their right to vote just like her forefathers.
Cortés and Garbus's film proves that voting has power. As Anderson states at the beginning of the film, people in power contest the right to vote because "voting matters." Casting our vote at the ballot box not only promotes a healthy democratic society, but it gives American citizens, particularly those from underrepresented groups, the ability to voice their concerns on a massive scale. But if we stop fighting for our right to vote, we concede our power to people who only want to keep it for themselves. That is why it is essential to watch this film. It gives viewers a thorough understanding of the history of voter suppression, the people who fight to stop it, and the steps American citizens can take to make voting accessible for all.
Despite covering an astonishing amount of material, All In manages to be a fascinating analysis of voter suppression in the United States. Gripping and powerful, this film will convince you, your family, and your friends to vote. As Abrams passionately says, "The fundamental power of democracy lies in the right to vote. If you protect that right, you create possibilities for everything else."
Voting has the power to enact real change. To check your voter registration status, visit the National Association of Secretaries of State to find out how.
