The documentary Slavery by Another Name reveals the surprising fact that African Americans were still being treated as slaves even after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863. The documentary enlightens the viewers on the many ways that African Americans struggled after being released from slavery. The term Slavery by Another Name arrives from the many ways that whites in the south found legal ways to enslave African Americans for long periods of time. The abuse that the court system practiced by holding thousands of African Americans back into slavery by working hard labor throughout their prison sentence was completely inhumane. By 1890 African American males, females, and even children made up ninety percent of the prison population.
…show more content…
The south was suffering economically due to African American hard labor contributing to the success of the south. After the law was issued previous slave owners struggled maintaining their farms but soon found ways to harbor slaves and not get in trouble with the law. With the help of law enforcement, African Americans soon found themselves being arrested for petty crimes such as theft of a pig and also being arrested for misdemeanor that would easily be turned into felonies. Those who were found guilty for even petty crimes as the ones stated before would find themselves incarcerated for long term prison sentences. African Americans who were incarcerated were forced into working hard labor for example working in coal mines and working for anyone who was in need of workers. Many African Americans who were lucky enough to avoid prison were often trapped into the peonage system, which would be African Americans who were stopped by whites claiming they owe money and often were sent to work off a debit that does not exist. African Americans were also forced to sign a contract that would force them to work hard labor for months and allow whites to whip and torture them. Even if slavery was abolished many whites in the south found a way to keep slaves without getting in trouble with the law by having African Americans work hard labor in order to pay off supposed debits or while being incarcerated that was not against the law. Because according to the law it was legal to work in order to pay off
The south was suffering economically due to African American hard labor contributing to the success of the south. After the law was issued previous slave owners struggled maintaining their farms but soon found ways to harbor slaves and not get in trouble with the law. With the help of law enforcement, African Americans soon found themselves being arrested for petty crimes such as theft of a pig and also being arrested for misdemeanor that would easily be turned into felonies. Those who were found guilty for even petty crimes as the ones stated before would find themselves incarcerated for long term prison sentences. African Americans who were incarcerated were forced into working hard labor for example working in coal mines and working for anyone who was in need of workers. Many African Americans who were lucky enough to avoid prison were often trapped into the peonage system, which would be African Americans who were stopped by whites claiming they owe money and often were sent to work off a debit that does not exist. African Americans were also forced to sign a contract that would force them to work hard labor for months and allow whites to whip and torture them. Even if slavery was abolished many whites in the south found a way to keep slaves without getting in trouble with the law by having African Americans work hard labor in order to pay off supposed debits or while being incarcerated that was not against the law. Because according to the law it was legal to work in order to pay off