21st century slavery and the extinction of Hope

In 2005, the population of the United States stood at 296.4 million. Of that number 80.2% were White, 14.4% Latino and 12.8% were Black (37.9 million).

In 2006, 2.9 million of the 37.9 million Blacks in the United States were arrested, in addition 3.06 million Blacks, or 8.1% (1 in 10) of all Blacks were incarcerated. In contrast only 1.1% of White males are incarcerated (1 in 100).

If the number of Blacks held in local jails are added to those number in Prisons, then the rate of incarceration of Black males between the agest of 25-29 rises to 1 in 7. Black males are incarcerated at 18 times the rate of Black females, and 17 times the rate of White males.

Although Blacks are 12.8% of the population they make up the following percentages of arrests for the following crimes:

50.9% murder
32.5% forcible rape
56.3 robbery
34.5 aggravated assault
29.2 burglary
28.9 larceny theft
34.9 motor vehicle theft
39.3 violent crime
71.8 gambling
39.6 prostitution
41.6 vagrancy

DUI’s are the only crime that Blacks are under-represented (9.2% of DUI arrests).


The wholesale incarceration of Blacks and Black males in particular has unfathomable consequences upon the community and it’s inhabitants. The removal of such substantial numbers of young men (and increasingly women) from the community contributes to family dissolution, single parent households, and reduced job prospects upon return to the community. Not to mention, Black males who are incarcerated face substantial barriers to higher education opportunities, enrollment, student loans, housing, employment and other types of assistance.

As a result of state-based disenfranchisement laws that restrict voting rights of felons and/or ex- felons, an estimated 13% of black males will be unable to vote. Hundreds of thousands of Black children never know or even see their father’s, only see their fathers during Jail and Prison visits. There is a lack of role models, and seeing as Prison is the most common destination for Black males, (besides emergency rooms and graveyards) there is a pervading sense of hopelessness and inability to engage in activities which lead to any type of future, as well as the inability to have the time space and guidance to engage in positive opportunities.

The reduced use of imprisonment, will depend on a consideration of policy options. Policies which are not in line with wholesale disparities and strategies which are not focused on low level, non-violent offenses. With the barriers faced by those with criminal records in obtaining employment, the long-term impact of “three strikes” and mandatory sentencing policies, is as significant a factor in recidivism as criminal activity itself.

Clearly the use of treatment instead of incarceration as a primary tool in coping with drug abuse, and the provision of adequate resources for community-based prevention and treatment programs is a cost saving and life saving measure.

Forgiveness, expunged records, diversion, enhanced community resources and “entry-points” to employment, housing and education are policies and strategies that can serve as social investments and true diversion as well as the reduction of overall crime and community disenfranchisement.

When Governmental policies are directly responsible for the wholesale disaparites in laws, arrests, prosecutions, sentencing, incarceration and felony disenfranchisement, then it can be said that the fact that so many Blacks are incarcerated is "Political", thus making many Blacks, in essence, Political Prisoners.