From Emancipation to Convict Leasing
In From Emancipation to Convict Leasing, historian Lucy Worsley learns that although enslaved people were free after the Civil War, a new type of enslavement arose. If Black people were found guilty of even minor crimes, they ended in slavery of a new kind: convict leasing. Conditions were harsh and many people died. This video is excerpted from BBC's American History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, in which Worsley reveals the myths and manipulations behind American history.
Lesson Express
Q: What was convict leasing?
A: Convict leasing was a system that emerged in the South after the Civil War, where state governments leased prisoners, mostly Black men, to private companies for forced labor. It allowed businesses to profit from cheap labor and was essentially a continuation of slavery under a different name. The prisoners, who were often arrested under unjust or discriminatory laws, were subjected to brutal conditions and harsh treatment.
Q: Describe some laws that were put into place with the intention of maintaining slavery.
A: After the Civil War, several laws and practices were put in place to sustain systems of racial control and oppression. The "Black Codes" were passed in Southern states to restrict the freedoms of African Americans, limiting their ability to own property, work in certain professions, and move freely. Additionally, vagrancy laws were used to arrest African Americans and force them into labor through convict leasing, keeping them in a system of economic and social subjugation.
Q: How have major corporations made use of prison labor?
A: Major corporations have historically made use of prison labor and continue to do so in order to lower production costs and increase profits. Companies often contract with prisons to provide them with inmates as a cheap source of labor for manufacturing goods, producing services, or working in agriculture. This practice raises ethical concerns, as prisoners are paid very little, work in poor conditions, and may not have the same rights as free workers, perpetuating cycles of exploitation.