US prison forced labour, a silent form of slavery for Blacks

The United States government’s rhetoric about democracy often rings hollow in the South, where white supremacy remains deeply entrenched.

Democracy is a public relations strategy to cover up acts of modern day slavery in its prison system targeting incarcerated Blacks and Hispanic nationals.

Prisons in the South, over the past years have come under scrutiny and criticism for prolonging modern-day slavery through forced labor practices that disproportionately affect Black individuals.

Modern slavery roots backdate when the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution that abolished slavery.

Under this, white supremacists after slavery ban reinforced a loophole- “except as a punishment for crime,” led to exploitation to justify forced labor in prisons.

Some of the common states in the South are Texas, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.

Research has shown that Black people are overrepresented especially in the South.

“Of the 12 states where more than half the state prison population is Black, nine of these states are in the South,” (The Sentencing Project 2022) revealed.

It further stated that the incarcerated population in the South is primarily and disproportionate “Within state and federal prisons, Black men are more likely to be assigned work in lower-paid or unpaid agriculture and prison.”

Incarcerated people of colour in the South are subjected to low wages are often paid minimal wages, ranging from USD0.04 to USD 2.00 per hour, for their labor.

While in states, like Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, do not pay prisoners for their labour.
In some instances prisoners are often forced to work under threat of punishment, including solitary confinement or denial of privileges.

Under these conditions Black people are more likely to be incarcerated and forced into labour due to systemic racism and biased policing practices.

At the end of the day the prison labour system exploits Black labour for profit, reinforcing racial disparities and inequality.
Under this system, the South has generated billions of dollars.

Harare-based political commentator Mr Naboth Dzivaguru said the US government is famously known for its sham adherence and the rule of law.

He added that the government has a reputation for indicating right whilst turning left.

US is famously known for its sham adherence to the tenets of democracy and the rule of law.

It is known for indicating right whilst turning left.

“The country is known for poor labor laws and ethics.

“It thrives on cheap labour and this is why it has resorted to modern-day slavery on blacks confined in their prisons.Its main concern or aim is to make profits notwithstanding the route taken to achieve results.

“It is a polite hypocrisy that should be exposed to the extreme and to the full glare of the world,” said Mr Dzivaguru.

Over the past years a crop of lawmakers in the US have called for the abolishment of 13th Amendment’s loophole to end forced labor.

While others have called an end to forced labour an immediate increase on wages and creation of better working conditions.

A paper by Sawyer and Wagner 2024, revealed that nearly 2 million people are confined in state and federal prisons, county jails, juvenile and immigrant detention and other confinement facilities.

ACLU and GHRC 2022 report stated that of the 1. 2 million people incarcerated in state and federal prisons, nearly 800 000 are prison labourers, most of them by force.

80 percent of them are employed in facility and maintenance operations, such as janitorial duties, food preparations, ground maintenance and laundry. These jobs keeps institute that enslave them to keep running.

Renowned Harare-based political analyst Derick Goto said the United States has perfected the art of double standards,loudly preaching democracy and human rights abroad while running one of the most exploitative systems of forced labour at home.

“The 13th Amendment was celebrated as the abolition of slavery yet its “exception clause” allowed slavery to continue for the incarcerated, a loophole disproportionately targeting African Americans.

He said the current US prison system, mainly in the South is not about rehabilitation but a man-made profit
making machine.

“American prisons generate billions annually, with fortune 500 companies – from agriculture to telecommunications and textiles – benefiting from this coerced labour. “Prisoners sew uniforms for the military, fight wildfires for a fraction of the minimum wage, and manufacture goods sold on the open market, yet they leave prison with no savings and no safety net.

Mr Goto said the US government exposes a democracy that is selective, exploitative, and built on the continued subjugation of Black citizens.
“Until America confronts this modern-day slavery within its borders, its lectures on democracy elsewhere remain nothing more than hollow propaganda.”