The First Step

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

When The First Step Act was signed into law on December 21, 2018, the initial process to reach that journey seemed arduous and almost impossible. During Donald Trump’s presidency, and even now, the lines drawn between Democrats and Republicans are quite distinct. In The First Step we get to watch as CNN correspondent Van Jones tries to bridge that divide by reaching across party lines to work with former White House employee and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. And, yes, while the divide is still there, in The First Step we witness how crossing party lines and working together can make a difference and, ultimately, how both parties can find common ground in some of the largest issues facing our country.

Van Jones made it his priority to work towards a prison reform bill with #cut50 to help reduce the sentences of low-level offenders and help get them back on their feet. Taking notice that Jared Kushner was just as passionate about prison reform due to his own father’s sentencing, Jones decides he needs to work with Kushner to try and push The First Step Act through Congress, an act of bipartisan criminal justice reform. Unfortunately, the bill has a steep hill to climb with Congress before reaching the goal. As Jones proclaims that “bipartisanship is not gonna come from the top down, it’s gonna come from the bottom up,” he puts focus on the war on drugs as his jump-point to bridge the political divide through different communities working together. If Democratic and Republican voters can come together in support and work with each other on an issue that strongly influences the criminal justice system, then maybe there’s hope to bring everyone together on common ground. 

With the opioid addiction now affecting more white communities, Van Jones pulls together community leaders in South Los Angeles to meet with community leaders in McDowell County, West Virginia and open a dialogue. The response is overwhelming as we watch as West meets East and find common ground in drug addiction destroying not just their communities, but also their families and loved ones. Yet while the dialogue is now established, Van faces an even bigger issue: the backlash from the black and minority communities for working with Kushner and Republicans rather than making a bolder move towards getting The First Step Act passed. The balance that Van Jones attempts to strike by bringing everyone on board affects him greatly. Fortunately, he perseveres and through persistence and drive The First Step Act gains the support of Trump and is passed into law.

Director Brian Kramer put forth a documentary that makes us examine more than just The First Step Act because The First Step is an appropriate name for not just the Act signed into law, but for the title and direction of the film. We take a first step in learning about Van Jones in a much more personal light. Many watch him on CNN and see the political commentator, but there’s a lot more than that. He’s an avid fan of superheroes, namely the Superman memorabilia that decorates his loft. During his graduation from Yale Law School, he wore a Malcolm X t-shirt over his gown with pride. With his collection of literature, he boasts that “anyone who has successfully made change, I have tried to study—you can’t fight an opponent you don’t understand.” He speaks with and visits family and mentors for guidance and he listens to those who oppose him to gain understanding on how to make his next moves towards the goal. And even when there is push-back coming to the goal, Van never gives up. We see that with the death of his mother Loretta Jones during the filming of The First Step, he mourns her loss at the funeral and in the next scene encourages the groups from Los Angeles and West Virginia to get to Washington D.C. and make their voices heard in Congress.

We also see a first step towards two political parties coming together on an issue that affects many. In a scene with the groups from Los Angeles and West Virginia, the question about political affiliation and voting is raised. Of course, voices were also raised during that discussion, but not without proper explanation and respect for one another. Ultimately, the consensus became that who they voted for didn’t make a difference right now, but rather they could by working together. And Kramer’s attention to capturing scenes like that one are a stark reminder of just how alike we all are, despite who we back politically. Both groups had had their own fair share of heartache and trauma from family members being imprisoned for unfair sentences to loved ones they have physically and metaphorically lost to drugs, gangs, etc. And in their pain, everyone could come together to work towards a positive first step in making change.   

During the signing of The First Step Act, Van Jones is witness to former President Trump signing the bill and then turning around to hand Van the pen. During that scene I thought back to Loretta’s funeral and how Van’s twin sister Angela recalls that Loretta taught her children to “stand up and be proud of who you are.” Van’s goal was that he wanted to change the world. And in that moment, he did—through working together.

For more information on The First Step please visit https://www.firststepfilm.com/.