All In: The Fight for Democracy Review: A Documentary That Matters As Much As Your Vote

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Did you know that in 1789, when George Washington was elected President, that only 6% of ALL Americans were eligible to vote?

Amazon’s All In: The Fight for Democracy brings so much information to the table as it tells the story of America’s history with voter suppression. Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives (and the first African-American female major-party gubernatorial nominee in the US), serves as the main voice for this documentary, unpacking facts that are not only enlightening but also alarming.

The film interlaces personal experiences with current activism as well as historical data to shine a spotlight on a problem that goes all the way back to the founding of our country. Take a look at the trailer below.

All In: The Fight for Democracy Trailer:

All In: The Fight for Democracy: What I Liked and Didn’t Like

All In: The Fight for Democracy provides an insiders’ look into the laws and general barriers to voting that threatens our basic rights as citizens. It’s a chilling wake up call and does a fantastic job of fueling the viewer’s passion to get out and vote. Every vote matters, and even if politics may not be your thing, this doc hands you a challenge and an opportunity to educate yourself and those around you.

Early in the film, Abrams shares a quote from African American novelist, James Baldwin. “People are trapped in history, and history is trapped in them.” Abrams continues to say it’s our responsibility to reshape history. This was my major take away from the film, aside from intense feelings of anger and sadness that this is where we are in 2020. We are better than this. We should be better than this.

I’m ashamed to admit that there were moments and pieces of our country’s history that I was unaware of before watching this. All In does a clear and concise job of presenting facts along with personal stories of how these unjust and corrupted moments in America’s history have held people back and convinced them that they don’t matter – that their vote doesn’t matter. It’s a vicious cycle that almost feels hopeless, but that doesn’t mean that we should give up hope.

Overall Thoughts

Overall, the content and timing of All In: The Fight for Democracy couldn’t be more important and relevant. While we all may be burned out on political content in 2020, films like this one are critical. This one is in theaters now and will be available on Amazon Prime September 18. Watch it with family, share it with your friends, have a conversation about it – and remember – VOTE this November. We do have the ability and the opportunity to reshape our history with this election. We have to rise up.