Truthout: The 13th Amendment Created Legal Slavery Through Incarceration

Truthout

February 04, 2016

Slavery didn't end, it evolved. That's the powerful argument made in Slaves of the State: Black Incarceration From the Chain Gang to the Penitentiary by Dennis Childs. Ever since a clause in the 13th Amendment allowed for enslavement as "punishment for crime," the groundwork has been laid for the prison industrial complex to function as the 21st century equivalent of chattel slavery. Order your copy of this eye-opening book by making a donation to Truthout today!

In this excerpt from Slaves of the State, Dennis Childs illustrates how the 13th Amendment played a primary role in perpetuating slavery. Keep reading.

Related content

Slaves of the State A sweeping cultural history of U.S. prison slavery

UMP blog

Environmental stewardship and the giant bluefin tuna.

#UPWeek: Citizenship in a time of wageless life.

By Jay Weiner, coauthor of Professor Berman

Capturing the voice of Hy Berman, Minnesota's beloved public historian.

SPRING 2019 CATALOG

More information:

Upcoming Events

SWEET NATURE event at Cream and Amber with Beth Dooley Feb 22, 2020 03:30 PM
— Cream and Amber, 1605 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343
WALKING THE OLD ROAD event at the Minnesota History Center with Staci Lola Drouillard Mar 17, 2020 07:00 PM
— Minnesota History Center, 345 W Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102
HOPE IN THE STRUGGLE event at the Arlington Hill Public Library with Josie Johnson Mar 28, 2020 12:00 PM
— Arlington Hill Public Library, 1105 Greenbrier St., St. Paul, MN 55106
A TO ZÅÄÖ event at Wild Rumpus with Nate Christopherson and Tara Sweeney Mar 29, 2020 12:30 PM
— Wild Rumpus, 2720 W 43rd St., Minneapolis, MN 55410
HOPE IN THE STRUGGLE event at the Rondo Public Library with Josie Johnson Apr 04, 2020 12:00 PM
— Rondo Public Library, 461 Dale St. N, St. Paul, MN 55103

University of Minnesota Press

Share

Truthout: The 13th Amendment Created Legal Slavery Through Incarceration