Slavery As a Choice: 2022 MidTerm Election
By Melisha Daniels - November 16, 2022'Slavery was a choice'
In an April, 2018 interview with Charlamagne the God, Ye (also known as Kanye West), expressed his thoughts on the enslavement of African-Americans. An institution that has lasted in the United States for more than 400 years.
During a span of almost 2 hours many subjects were discussed; including his friendship with Jay-Z, discrimination in the fashion industry and the stigma of mental illness. However, the statement, 'Slavery was a choice', would be the most memorable. And the one that polarized the legendary artist and the Black community. With many questioning his allegiance and many more questioning his mental health.
Regardless of how you feel about Ye's mental health, slavery was formally abolished America in 1865, however the controversial practice that built much of America's infrastructure continues in 2022. And is targeted mainly towards Black people.
An article published on Abolitionistcenter.com explains that in addition to the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, 25 states and 2 territories in the Union still have exception clauses allowing involuntary servitude or Constitutional slavery in the form of prison labor.
Prison labor slavery is an institution that disproportionately affects Black men and women. Who despite making up less than 13% of the American population, constitute over 1/3rd of the U.S. prison population. Meaning, in addition to being imprisoned, Blacks with criminal convictions are also subjected to enslavement as a form of punishment. And in the 2022 Mid-Term election, prison slavery appeared as a ballot choice for voting Americans in Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont and Louisiana.
Slavery & The 2022 Mid-Term Elections
Understand that the United States Mid-Term election is just as or even more important than the widely publicized Presidential elections. Held once every 2 years, the election cycle is where most of the U.S. judicial branch is chosen. The Mid-Term elections is when our Federal (U.S. Congress) and State (U.S. Senate) representatives, Governor, Mayor, District and municipal judges are elected.
The 2022 Mid-Terms were especially important for the millions of men and women incarcerated in U.S. prisons performing prison labor for free or for pennies on the dollar. As the election cycle presented the pivotal choice of prison slavery to U.S. voters in 5 states. Electors decided on proposals that would amend constitutional clauses and remove 'slavery' from their states' Constitutions.
- Voters in Alabama approved Amendment 10. Which removed racist language, including the word 'slavery' from the State's Constitution
- Voters in Oregon approved Measure 112. The measure removed constitutional clauses allowing slavery and approved alternatives to incarceration, such as mandatory education, counseling and/or treatment or community service.
- Voters in Tennessee approved Amendment 3. Although the Constitutional Amendment prohibits slavery in the state, the change in the constitutional clause does not prohibit people convicted of crimes from performing prison labor. In layman's terms, you can't be a slave but you can still be a slave if you commit a crime.
- Voters in the State of Vermont approved Proposal 2. A constitutional amendment that prohibits slavery in any form in the state.
- Louisiana voters rejected proposed Constitutional Amendment 7. The anti-slavery amendment would have prohibited the use of involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment.
More than 150 years since its 'abolishment', Slavery in the U.S. continues as a practice that affects men and women who have been convicted of crimes. Post the 2022 Mid-Term elections, more than 20 states in the Union still have constitutional clauses that allow involuntary servitude or prison slave labor as criminal punishment. Win, lose or draw; slavery remains a choice in America.
