After the American Civil War, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution,
ratified in 1865, freed thousands of enslaved people and outlawed forced
labor except as punishment for a crime. Utilizing this loophole, the
Georgia General Assembly legalized the leasing
of prisoners for profit to private individuals and companies. This
virtual exhibit tour and presentation examines the forced labor of
prisoners in Georgia from the start of the convict lease system in 1868
until the abolition of the chain gang in the 1940s.
Participants will learn about the racialization of carceral labor, the
experiences of women and adolescents in convict camps, the social
justice activism of those who campaigned to reform and abolish forced
labor practices, and