Do Now Look at the chart about inmates

Do Now Look at the chart about inmates in US prisons. What do you see about the differences between the US Population and that of the incarcerated population? What are your initial reactions to these graphs?

Mass Incarceration of African Americans Roots of the Issue

Learning Objective: Students will analyze the historic events that led to mass incarceration becoming a modern civil rights issues. Content Standard 11. 10

13 th Amendment (1865) "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. ” Does this amendment ban all forms of slavery?

th 13 Amendment • First time “slavery” is mentioned in the Constitution • Ensures the ending of institutional slavery • Passing of the 13 th amendment outrages many whites • Nation was built using free labor (slavery) • Many hope that a new form of slavery will emerge • Loophole in 13 th Amendment • Allows slavery as punishment for crime • Many freedmen gain work on plantations they were once enslaved to - sharecropping

Convict Leasing • Began before the Civil War, but spread mostly in the South during Reconstruction (1870 s) • Prisons/states get paid to lease out prisoners for work • Replacement for end of free labor • Created an incentive to arrest more African Americans and keep prisons full

Jim Crow and Increased Incarceration Rates • Jim Crow laws are created in southern states • Shortly after, they are adopted throughout the nation (1890’s) • People arrested for violating Jim Crow laws • Such as sitting in the wrong section of a public facility • Some states even create curfew for African Americans • Jim Crow laws give legal reason to disproportionately arrest African Americans

Jim Crow (cont. ) • Many state constitutions ratified to ban convicted felons from voting while in prison (early 1900’s) • Effort to continue to disenfranchise voters • Some states also block parolees from voting • Also blocks felons from participating in juries while imprisoned • Blocks ability to have fair trial by peers • Many states block African Americans in general from being able to participate on juries

Early Attempts to Back • Civil Disobedience • Form of non-violent/political protest • Refuse to follow certain laws or to pay taxes/fines • Tactic of protesting Jim Crow laws was to allow police to arrest protesters • Attempt to fill jails beyond capacity– most notably during Sit-In movement • BUT, large number of people lose ability to vote or participate in jury while in jail

Today’s Activity • Watching a section of the documentary: • 13 th directed by Ava Du. Vernay • By the end of today’s section of the movie, you should be able to answer at least questions #1 - 4 • Feel free to take notes during the film to add to your notes from the Power Point • 1 hour 15 minutes – 1 hour 35 minutes (20 minutes)