The History of Mass Incarceration in the United States
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The Roots of American Mass Incarceration
The United States accounts for 5% of the world’s population but is responsible for 25% of the world’s incarcerations.
The 13th Amendment and the First Prison Boom
- The 13th Amendment granted freedom to all slaves, but if they were convicted of a crime, they were still subject to involuntary servitude. This led to the first major prison boom.
The Impact of "Birth of a Nation"
- Black men were labeled as rapacious and animalistic in the film Birth of a Nation:
- It served as the first major blockbuster for political commentary.
- It confirmed the narrative white society wanted to tell about the Civil War aftermath, portraying whites as martyrs.
- Blacks were depicted as animals and a threat to white women.
- Myths of