The United States & South Africa |
Throughout the transatlantic world, slavery existed and still exists in some way, shape or form. Here we take a look into how slavery exists today on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean; from United States to South Africa. In both prison systems, unfreedom and injustice are present.
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An interactive map is shown. The locations of interest are the United States located in the center of North America as well as South Africa, on the bottom of the African continent. These two locations are disconnected by the large mass of water, the Atlantic Ocean. They are grouped together, although, in what is called the transatlantic world. There are also some locations marked which are significant in the establishment of prison systems and slavery.
Quick Statistics
Value |
South Africa |
United States |
Prison Population Total (includes pre trial & remand prisoners) |
147,922 in 2020 |
2,068,800 in 2019 |
Percentage of Prison Population that is female |
2.6% in 2020 |
10.3% in 2019 |
Minors/Juveniles (percentage of prison population) |
0.1% in 2019 |
0.2% in 2019 |
Official Capacity of Prison System |
118,572* in 2020 |
2,163,235 in 2019 |
* Note the overpopulation in South Africa, there is a higher prison population than there is capacity for
(Prisonstudies.org: World Prison Brief: An online database comprising information on prisons and the use of imprisonment around the World Online 1969)
(Prisonstudies.org: World Prison Brief: An online database comprising information on prisons and the use of imprisonment around the World Online 1969)
In Depth Analysis of Prison Populations in Both United States and South Africa
Right now the United States prison population is made up of 57.9% white inmates, 38.1% black inmates, 2.5% Native Americans, and 1.5% Asian. In South Africa (2016), the population of inmates was the following: black 79.6%, colored 18.2%, white 1.6%, and 0.6% Asian/Indian. Interestingly, the ratio of population of black inmates to white inmates has decreased. From 2009-2019, a 2% decrease in black prison inmate population. (Federal Justice Statistics, 2019 - Bjs.ojp.gov). Both South Africa and the United States prisons face issues such as overcrowding, violation of human rights, social isolation, and forced labor- all of which can be viewed as modern day slavery. Those that are imprisoned, face a loss of freedom, both during their incarceration as well as their life after, if there is one.
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Lack of Freedom in Prison Systems
Prisoners of both nations in the transatlantic world face unfreedoms. Whether it be through social isolation or forced labor, they are neglected of their own personal freedoms. Isaiah Berlin is famous for his concept of positive and negative liberty, (Two Concepts of Liberty) both of which are taken from prisoners. Negative liberty is freedom from lack of constraints, obstacles, or barriers. These inmates are locked up, full of constraints, therefore they lack negative liberty. Positive liberty is the ability to take control of your own life and make your own destiny. These prisoners have no control over their life, their sentence, and even upon release, face discrimination and an inability to become who they desire to be. The prisoners face an endless cycle of imprisonment after their sentence, Angela Davis describes this cycle. Angela Davis, a prison reform activist, stands strongly as an advocate for change of our modern slave institutions. The prison system today is modern day slavery, and once you are a criminal, you are one for life. Ian Manuel can speak in terms of how solitary confinement shaped him, and how he still faces discrimination even after being released from prison. His story shows how in the United States (and also applicable to South America), children can be sentenced to life in prison. A young child's life taken away from them.
Another popular theory of freedom is by political theorist Orlando Patterson. In his book In Freedom in the Making of
Western Culture, Patterson describes his theory of freedom. He believed that there are 3 types of freedom: personal freedom (you can do what you want, while respecting the rights of others), sovereign freedom (you do what you want, without regards to others), and civic freedom (you are able to participate in government and community activities). People who are incarcerated face severe limitations on their personal freedom; while they may be able to chose some classes and activities that they would like to participate in, they are not able to leave or drive a car or go to the grocery store and buy the foods they would like to consume. People in prison obviously are not able to do whatever they want without repercussions (as all people in societies face the limitations laws provide to protect members of the society). Those who are incarcerated do not have civic freedom as they are kept away from society and are not able to vote. Scholar, Neil Roberts describes his concept of freedom in Freedom as Marronage. Marronage is a principle in which a group of people who feel that they are being controlled or oppressed in a current society leave and create their own society. Those who are imprisoned cannot leave prison and create their own society in the United States (or really in any country that is the same as the one they were incarcerated in).
Western Culture, Patterson describes his theory of freedom. He believed that there are 3 types of freedom: personal freedom (you can do what you want, while respecting the rights of others), sovereign freedom (you do what you want, without regards to others), and civic freedom (you are able to participate in government and community activities). People who are incarcerated face severe limitations on their personal freedom; while they may be able to chose some classes and activities that they would like to participate in, they are not able to leave or drive a car or go to the grocery store and buy the foods they would like to consume. People in prison obviously are not able to do whatever they want without repercussions (as all people in societies face the limitations laws provide to protect members of the society). Those who are incarcerated do not have civic freedom as they are kept away from society and are not able to vote. Scholar, Neil Roberts describes his concept of freedom in Freedom as Marronage. Marronage is a principle in which a group of people who feel that they are being controlled or oppressed in a current society leave and create their own society. Those who are imprisoned cannot leave prison and create their own society in the United States (or really in any country that is the same as the one they were incarcerated in).