Author David M. Oshinsky presents a realistic description of Parchman Farm from its beginning in 1904, to present day, with striking documentation. The author also discusses slavery, emancipation, reconstruction and post reconstruction “New South” and shares the history of Mississippi's notorious Parchman prison farm as it related to sharecropping, convict leasing, lynching and the legalized segregation and was considered by the author as “Worse than Slavery.”
From the 1880s into the 1960s, segregation in Mississippi was enforced through "Jim Crow" laws. These laws were given the name that referred to blacks in a musical show. These laws resulted in legal punishments on black people for consorting with members of another race, inter-racial …show more content…
He also enlightens the reader concerning the unfair treatment of blacks up until the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. Quotes and first-hand accounts by prisoners personalize the experiences they endured. Detailed incidents were unpleasant to read, but necessary in the context of the information presented.
Published in 1996, Oshinsky’s documentation in “Worse than Slavery,” begins with emancipation and continues through the tenure of Governor Charles K. Vardaman, the “White Chief,” who had intentions of socializing young blacks in the newly constructed Parchman Farm prison. Part one ends with the scene at the plantation environment as “humane and sensible” solution to Negro crime.
Through documentation of photos and writings, Oshinsky reveals the true environment and daily toils of those who were unfortunate to cross the Sunflower River into the Delta and enter the …show more content…
According to Oshinsky, local courts were useless. By the 1960’s, when plantation-like work was used less, Parchman remained a den of violence that existed among convicts, and guards exercised suppression and restraint. When northern civil rights reformers and freedom riders arrived in the south, government officials had them jailed for a brief time at Parchman. Their treatment at the hands of guards and reports of dangerous conditions resulted in several lawsuits. A Federal district court ordered the state to reform, upgrade and desegregate the prison.
Mr. Oshinsky writes, and quotes from inmates relate, “You learn a lot about survival here now at Parchman.”
Truly, the past and present mix here within the cell blocks and the inmates attempt to survive. In contrast, an inmate of 50 years, said of the old ways, “made me feel better inside, even if I was tired after working the fields all day.”
Whether or not convict leasing or Parchman prison was “worse than slavery,” or not, it resembled it, and was a dark chapter in the history of
From the 1880s into the 1960s, segregation in Mississippi was enforced through "Jim Crow" laws. These laws were given the name that referred to blacks in a musical show. These laws resulted in legal punishments on black people for consorting with members of another race, inter-racial …show more content…
He also enlightens the reader concerning the unfair treatment of blacks up until the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. Quotes and first-hand accounts by prisoners personalize the experiences they endured. Detailed incidents were unpleasant to read, but necessary in the context of the information presented.
Published in 1996, Oshinsky’s documentation in “Worse than Slavery,” begins with emancipation and continues through the tenure of Governor Charles K. Vardaman, the “White Chief,” who had intentions of socializing young blacks in the newly constructed Parchman Farm prison. Part one ends with the scene at the plantation environment as “humane and sensible” solution to Negro crime.
Through documentation of photos and writings, Oshinsky reveals the true environment and daily toils of those who were unfortunate to cross the Sunflower River into the Delta and enter the …show more content…
According to Oshinsky, local courts were useless. By the 1960’s, when plantation-like work was used less, Parchman remained a den of violence that existed among convicts, and guards exercised suppression and restraint. When northern civil rights reformers and freedom riders arrived in the south, government officials had them jailed for a brief time at Parchman. Their treatment at the hands of guards and reports of dangerous conditions resulted in several lawsuits. A Federal district court ordered the state to reform, upgrade and desegregate the prison.
Mr. Oshinsky writes, and quotes from inmates relate, “You learn a lot about survival here now at Parchman.”
Truly, the past and present mix here within the cell blocks and the inmates attempt to survive. In contrast, an inmate of 50 years, said of the old ways, “made me feel better inside, even if I was tired after working the fields all day.”
Whether or not convict leasing or Parchman prison was “worse than slavery,” or not, it resembled it, and was a dark chapter in the history of