HoneySuckle Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Culture
  • Gender & Sexuality
  • Racial Politics
    • Black Lives Matter
    • A Culture Cries Out
    • Politics
  • Environment
    • Spirituality
      • Honey Drip
    • Health & Wellness
SHOP
Honey Suckle Magazine
  • Culture
  • Gender & Sexuality
  • Racial Politics
    • Black Lives Matter
    • A Culture Cries Out
    • Politics
  • Environment
    • Spirituality
      • Honey Drip
    • Health & Wellness
No Result
View All Result
Honey Suckle Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Racial Politics Politics

157 Years Later, Slavery Continues Under a Different Appearance: Prison Labor

The 13th amendment prohibits slavery, “except as a punishment for crime,” wherein the issue lies. Modern-day slavery exists and is more commonly known as prison labor. 

February 25, 2021
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
prison labor, the 13th amendment, slave labor, Slavery, Black Lives Matter, BLM

Graphic: Sam C. Long

Slavery has had long a history in the United States, and while it’s believed that it was “abolished” by the 13th amendment, there is one clause that makes a major exception. The amendment prohibits slavery, “except as a punishment for crime,” wherein the issue lies. Modern-day slavery exists and is more commonly known as prison labor. 

RELATED POSTS

Upper East Side for Black Lives Matter Holds Vigil For Breonna Taylor 

#StopAsianHate: Startling Signs, Systemic Racism, and Solutions

Cannabiziac Forum: Civil Rights, Criminal Law, and Black People in the Cannabis Industry

Prison Labor as Modern-Day Slavery

Prison labor exists on two different levels, both federal and state. The Federal Prison Industries (FPI) use prison labor to make many different things such as furniture and operate under the name UNICOR. Large corporations benefit from the existence of prison industrial complexes, though they do not all directly receive products from them. 

Sheron Edwards who is actively incarcerated in Mississippi state prison has experienced prison labor on a federal and state level. Incarcerated in 1999 for an armed robbery case, Edwards’ case was brought before a federal magistrate that doubled his prison sentence. Having recently finished his sentence in federal prison, he has been working to reduce his second sentence in state prison with his legal team. His journey can be followed and supported by #freesheronedwards. 

In federal prison, Edwards worked as a barber and a member of the suicide watch group. All of his jobs have been in-house labor, which are internal operations inside the institution. The jobs ranged from cleaning the bathrooms and floors to cooking. In a way, Edwards and the other incarcerated residents keep their “society within a society,” functioning day-to-day. 

In federal prison, incarcerated individuals are paid, though the amount is a crime in and of itself. Incarcerated individuals can be paid as little as $0.23 an hour, and up to one dollar depending on how long they’ve been working a certain position. During his work as a barber, Edwards’s average workday would be from seven to three, with an hour lunch break. For his efforts, he would receive one dollar an hour. In state prison as a barber, he’s not paid at all. 

One of the largest problems that Edwards notes is that incarcerated individuals are often paying the money they earned right back to the prison system in federal prison. Buying items from the commissary, and in some instances paying the prisons for an individual’s sentence are just some shameful ways that the prison system keeps its money circulating. 

In many instances, incarcerated people do work that directly benefits large corporations. Wendy’s, Starbucks, Whole Foods, and Verizon are only a few examples of major companies that benefit from prison labor. Incarcerated individuals may process beef patties for fast food companies or provide telecommunication services for phone providers. 

Consumers perpetuate this loop by continuing to pay for products that are made from prison labor, increasing the demand for such items. Protests against prison labor, and prison complexes appeared alongside Black Lives Matter, and police brutality protests this year. Because Black and Latinx people have much higher incarceration rates, these issues were deeply intertwined. 

But Edwards makes it clear that prisons benefit corporations, simply by incarcerating people. Although Edwards’ work cutting hair doesn’t go directly into a corporation, another corporation owns the institution he’s incarcerated in. While one corporation sells his institution food, another sells them their commissary products and their clothing. His place in the system is part of a much larger chain that profits directly off of prisons, and policing. 

Prison Labor and the Capitol Attack

Following the attack that took place at the state capitol, there is speculation that prison labor will be responsible for cleaning up the mess. After a demanding, and traumatic year for Black Lives Matter and police brutality protesters, the events that took place at the state capitol building were quite paradoxical.

White supremacists, Trump loyalists, and Proud Boys armed to the teeth stormed the state capitol building, without a single shot or push-back from the police. Adding insult to injury, Black, Brown, and Latinx workers cleaned it all up. 

Policing and therefore the prison system disproportionately affect Black and Latinx men and women in America, perpetuating the existence of modern-day slavery. Incarcerated individuals will most likely be responsible for cleaning up the mess left by those who put them there. It can be wondered if prison labor will create any of the items that were destroyed in the capital attacks.  

Prison Conditions and Senate Bill 2123

Edwards emphasizes the atrocious conditions that exist in the Mississippi prison complex, despite their high funding. With about 19,000 incarcerated individuals in the state institutions at a time, there is often overcrowding. Edwards recalls that when he was first brought in, he was given a space on the floor to sleep because there weren’t enough beds in his institution. 

Senate Bill 2123 was proposed to provide more opportunities for incarcerated individuals to receive parole but ultimately did not pass. At this moment in time, the push to dismantle the police and prison system is at an all time, and the failure to pass bill 2123 could have changed many lives and relieved Mississippi prisons of some pressure. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Ultimately, prison labor is an extension of slavery that lives on in the US. While the descendants of those who fought so desperately to keep slavery alive continue to terrorize the country, incarcerated individuals continue to be responsible for their mess. 

#freesheronedwards

Tags: IncarcerationPrisonrace in america
ShareTweet
Ronit Pinto

Ronit Pinto

Ronit Pinto is the Publisher and Founder of Honeysuckle Magazine.

Related Posts

breonna taylor mural
Black Lives Matter

Upper East Side for Black Lives Matter Holds Vigil For Breonna Taylor 

#stopasianhate racism is the virus sign
Racial Politics

#StopAsianHate: Startling Signs, Systemic Racism, and Solutions

cannabiziac focum
Honey Pot

Cannabiziac Forum: Civil Rights, Criminal Law, and Black People in the Cannabis Industry

black icons, black history month
Features

The Heroes that Shape Us: This Black History Month, Honeysuckle’s Staff Reflects on Black Icons

Black Music, Music industry, Exploitation
Music

How the Music Industry Exploits and Discriminates Against Black Musicians

anti-asian hate crimes protest
Politics

The Alarming Spike in Anti-Asian Hate Crimes 

Next Post
book, The Forgiveness Tour, Susan Shapiro

An Interview with Susan Shapiro On New Book The Forgiveness Tour

On Harry Styles and the Intersection of Aesthetic and Sexuality

On Harry Styles and the Intersection of Aesthetic and Sexuality

Discussion about this post

Recommended Stories

abrahammakany2cshabazzgreen28orange292candrodericklawrence-photobyrussrowland-8181744

The Radical History of Idris Goodwin’s ‘Bars and Measures’

Oprah: A New Kind of Me Too

Oprah: A New Kind of Me Too

california-smoke

Will Californians Understand the Smoke Signals?

Popular Stories

  • On Secret Sex Work, Cardi B, and Finding Liberty

    On Secret Sex Work, Cardi B, and Finding Liberty

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Unbound: King Noire on Kink, Porn, and Polyamory

    291 shares
    Share 291 Tweet 0
  • Illegal Cannabis is Unconstitutional: Hiller PC Takes Landmark Case to Supreme Court

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Power of Your Life Path Number

    14 shares
    Share 14 Tweet 0
  • How an HBO Episode “How To With John Wilson” on The Mandela Effect Became a Commentary on Nostalgia

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Honeysuckle Magazine

Honeysuckle Magazine provides an outlet that emphasizes diverse perspectives and creative expression. Wise, yet provocative, we aim to normalize the discussions of taboo topics.

Recent Articles

  • Celebrate Earth Day and Tour Hawaiian Hemp with Mana Artisan Botanics
  • Canna4Climate Day Bridges 4/20 and Earth Day Movements: An Interview with The Weed Tube’s Arend Richard
  • Emily Eizen: Queen of Kush 

Download the Apps

Honeysuckle on Apple App Store
Honeysuckle on Google Play Store

About Honeysuckle

  • About Us
  • Team
  • Press & Awards

© Copyright 2020 Honeysuckle Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

No Result
View All Result
  • Culture
  • Gender & Sexuality
  • Racial Politics
  • Sustainability and Environment
    • Spirituality
    • Health & Wellness
  • Honeysuckle Studios
  • Honey Pot
  • Shop
  • Honey Drip

© Copyright 2020 Honeysuckle Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?