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The Prison Industrial Complex

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"The Prison Industrial Complex" is an incredible 1997 recorded speech given by Angela Y. Davis herself. The CD is broken down into several subjects, focusing on the increasing trend toward more prisons and less rehabilitation in American society. It also focuses on those who proft from more prisons, capitalism, immigration, racism, sexism, and the environment. This CD is amazing. I've listened to it several times and each time I listen to it, I understand or hear something that I didn't quite catch before. Buy this CD.

A stinging inditement of the americanpenal system. In a lecture given inColorado Springs Ms.Angela Davis givesher listeners pause for thought asshe examines a penal system that atbest can only be described as racist. Why do young black males make up sucha disproportinate number of the popul-ation of this countrys prison system?The prison system feeds of the attackon the welfare system in this country.Women who can no longer collect welfareare forced into the drug trade or theprostitution ring all in an attempt toraise money for their family.They turnto those things I mentioned becausethey can not find jobs. Angela also shows how the attack onillegal immigrants usually people ofcolor also fosters the growth of theprison industry Ms. Davis points to our obsession ofcrime as an excuse to lock up thosewho we no longer want to deal with.The out of sight out of mind syndrome. Another excellent point made by Ms.Davis in our so called war on drugs.People can get 20 yrs behindbars for taking crack but Prozac thedrug of choice a slap on the wrist. Angela knows very well what she speaks of when she rips the penalsystem. She spent eight months behindbars on a trumped up charge. Sheknows what thoughtless places jailcan be. They try to rob you of yourself respect I especially liked the last part ofher talk when she pointed out thatalot of the problems we face in thiscountry are a result of conservativepolitics and the fact that those of uson the left need to become more activeand radical in our actions to bringabout much needed changes in this country. I can think of no betterspokesperson for this movement thanAngela Davis.

Davis examines the large numberof young black males that comprise the prisons in thiscountry. Instead of rehabilitationwhat we are seeing is the ware-housing of mainly people of colorin our prisons. She explains howin our view welfare mothers andimmigrants are viewed as criminals.We dont provide the necessary meansin this country for them to fufill the so called american dream. She charges companys likeNike rely on immigrant labor forslave wages. When we vote forprison bonds the three strike rule we are in Davis's wordsaiding the Prison Industrial Complex. We need alternativemeasures that will increase apersons self worth rather thanletting them waste away in prison. I have listened to this cdmany times each time I becomea bigger supporter of thiscourageous woman. She knows aboutincarceration having spent 8 months in jail on trumped upcharges. I urge you to becomefamiliar with the works of thisamazing woman.