Angola Penitentiary

Oakland artist Sham Saenz asked me to look into Angola Prison, aka Louisiana State Penitentiary as part of an art project he was planning. I knew a bit about it from having viewed the documentary, 'The Farm', but wasn't all that well versed in it's history.

Some of what I think I know, may be fiction. As I investigate Angola over the next several weeks, I will give updates and check facts, call down for interviews and read books on the subject. The end result will be a reliable report about the heart and soul of Angola of course focusing on the major issues of humanity and philosophy and how it serves as a symptom of society at large.

What I think I know about Angola is that in the first have of the 20th century, anyone with a sentance longer than 4 years, had the equivalent of a death sentance. The conditions were so brutal, the trustee's so corrupt and work so bone wearying that hardly a soul had a hope of getting out alive. Part of the reason for this is that in the early 1920's, all the guards were fired seeing as it was too expensive. For the next several decades Angola relied solely on "trustee's" to run the prison. Trustees are prisoners entruted with the duties, jobs and responsibilities in the operation of the prison. This move of course, while saving the State of Louisiana millions of dollars, lead to widespread cruelty and corruption.

Currently only 1 in 6 prisoners lives long enough to be released. 50 years is considered a short sentance. Convictions for charges as light as simple robbery or possession of dope can result in a sentance of 99 years.

There was once a group of 21 prisoners that cut their own achilles tendons to protest the harsh work conditions.

'Angola' was named after the part of Africa where most of the slaves came from. It started out as a plantation purchased with funds from the slave trade by a prominent slave trader. it's lands were gradually added to through purchase and acquisition. After slavery was outlawed, production on the plantation continued through the use of convict labor.

It goes without saying that as a deep south, former confederate and slave state, conditions for Black men were quite horrendous. Is is a prison that has persisted without a fence or walls, due to the fact that it is surrounded by miles of swamps, the lack of roads and alligator infested waters.