A new magazine called ColorLines, with editorial
offices in Oakland, Calif., takes a harsh look at what it calls the
“prison-industrial complex.” It finds an unsavory relationship
between corporations that improve their bottom line thanks to cheap
prison labor, and our society’s desire to lock up people we’ve
given up trying to socialize or educate. Guest editor of the
publication’s second issue is Angela Y. Davis, who served time
herself for trying to help a prisoner escape. She outlines
disturbing trends, including the growing privatization of jails and
resulting loss of public accountability, along with corporations’
increasing reliance on prison workers who can’t strike, organize
into unions or demand health insurance. These days, prisoners do
data entry for Chevron, for example, and Nordstrom department
stores sell jeans made in prison under the label “Prison Blues.”
Who is in prison? A disproportionately high number of Native
Americans, blacks and Hispanics, and a rising number of women,
juveniles and illegal immigrants, a quarter of whom are deported
after they serve their sentences.
The 44-page
quarterly magazine, dedicated to “race, culture, action,” is $15
for six issues from ColorLines, Box 3000, Denville, NJ 07834-9206.
*Betsy
Marston
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Prisoners for hire.
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