"Slavery 400 years ago, slavery today. It's the same, but with a
new name. They're practicing slavery under color of law." (Ruchell Cinque
Magee)
The 13th
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution retained the right to enslave within the
confines of prison. “Neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States or any place
subject to their jurisdiction.” Dec. 6, 1865.
Even before
the abolition of chattel slavery, America's history of prison labor had already
begun in New York's State Prison at Auburn soon after it opened in 1817. Auburn
became the first prison that contracted with a private business to operate a
factory within its walls. Later, in the post Civil War period, the "contract
and lease" system proliferated, allowing private companies to employ
prisoners and sell their products for profit.
Today, such
prisons are referred to as “Factories with Fences.”
(/www.unicor.gov/information/publications/pdfs/corporate/CATMC1101_C.pdf)
