Angela Davis discusses Prison Industrial Complex

[vincent15641]

See the Aimed At America 4 video for an example of how actual slavery continues in America's prisons today.

[reeko3100]

@vincent15641 Slavery does exist. If the law had feelings and can talk like a human then what will it say. "Fuck you niggers i hope you die and rot in jail". Does the law have hatres to another social class or race. If so. the law is a reflection of the rich , greedy , evil people in power. Instead of whipping us and cutting off or feet they whipping us with laws and cutting from our households. Any how , i would like to thank Angela Davis. and power to the 99%.

[atm0830]

This ENTIRE system is obviously NOT WORKING!

Human beings are not created/designed to be caged like animals....animals aren't designed to be caged either, for that matter...this slavery hostage situation is getting ridiculous! Enough is enough already.....LET OUR PEOPLE GO!!!!!

[yourOpinionNotMine]

it really comes down to the poor. wealthy people seldom do time for heinous acts, whether they be violence or pure theft of common people

[FedUpSista]

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

[Rubmer]

according to a recent study 65 million Americans have criminal records, 35-38 million have felonies. Legalize drugs and stop the "drug war" its a failure.

[LEEROYYx]

She is such a beautiful, amazing woman, ain't she? Much respect and love. Salute!!!

[tarjay35]

she's awesome! :)

[PAYATTENTIONDAMMITT]

great work,,1luvBoss!

[eoriol1955]

The first Black president will help Black people the same way Jesus and God help them...;In their stupid minds

[talon115]

If the government had their way we would all be in prison. End this madness now!

[BillionGODSun]

Free 'em All!!!

~All Power 2 da People~

[MZDECATL]

MY FAVORiTE SHE-RO OF THE BLACK POWER MOVEMENT.....MAKEZ ME PROUD 2 BE UH BLACK WOMAN.....THANK U SiSTA ANGELA DAViS....U ARE LOVED & VERY MUCH APPRECiATED....

[schism4291]

The prison industrial complex is, IN PART, an attempt to reduce the black birth rate by incarcerating large numbers of black men. The fertility rate of white women is lower than that of black women. The birth rate per 1000 women in this country for black women is 21 for every 1000 black women. While the birth rate for white women per 1000 is under 15 per 1000.

Whites began to worry about this when the first projections came out concerning the demographics in the U.S.

[nsquareprof]

"America spends approximately 100 billion dollars a year on criminal justice system , up from 12 billion in 1972."

Bureau of Justice Statistics

[candygir7]

@nsquareprof most of the real criminals are not in jail, they run this country. see the site mayabell.

[56BUICKRiviera]

They are in prison cause they cant function in society. Doing things like murdering a judge for example.

[ekeyra]

@56BUICKRiviera if you murder a judge you should be given a medal not thrown in jail. go look up that ex judge who got thrown in jail for attempting to rape a woman who worked for him. he was in jail a few weeks and whine that it was so "cruel" and his sentence should be shortened. fuck em all

[56BUICKRiviera]

Umm Judges are good people thats why they are judges. Violent criminal behavior is dealt with accordingly. One would hope.

[ekeyra]

@56BUICKRiviera Someone had to sentence the 60% of non violent prison inmates to serve time. my guess would have to be judges. fuck em

[chargerfan80]

The problem is:

#1. Prisoners DO NOT STAND TOGETHER!!

#2. When we get out of prison, we just as soon forget about the whole experience, instead of embrace it.

#3. We Do NOT UP RISE!

#4. We do NOT have any organizations that help one another, the non-profit organizations that "claim to help prisoners, really DON'T".

#5. We NEED to boycott employers that do not hire x-felons.

#6. We need to stand together, regardless whether black or white!!!

[DJAnarchoRedist]

@chargerfan80 Anarchist Black Cross Federation helps prisoners.

[GILC122]

@chargerfan80 Can you imagine if just pot was legal, the cost savings on NOT imprisoning people? Then, tax it like cigarettes are and think of the revenue generated. No budget crisis!

[wikkdkitty]

again... lets drop the race card when it comes to prison.. plenty of young white men doing life without taking a life.

[socamaestro]

@wikkdkitty

What's a race card?

Do the numbers/statistics mean anything?

[mwells219]

race is not a card. and statistically more black males are in jail that white males. stop making race a non issue.

[curtisjones400]

Angela Davis was a very intelligent black person-power to the people

[BillionGODSun]

da Struggle Continues!!!

~Black OurStory Month 2010~

[xesenta69]

u American blacks hav 4gotten how to fight oppression. I'm not talking about human bombs, Mr. TSA .... just that you completely defeat your foe at a game of chess! its the only way to true liberty ...

[landsker]

The prison and criminal justice system, except in a tiny percentage of cases, is not a response to crime. The current form of capitalist America calls for crime to serve the system. Every judge needs a court, and a court needs a defendant, and all prisons require convicted defendants. The creation of an underclass, needs broken families, and drives poorly educated folk to divorce and addiction, unemployment, and unable to afford education, thus peretuating the cycle. Stay safe.

[candygir7]

Whatever you do, do not return to state control, they care Nazis. Serious secret government experimentations will occur with biological weapons, and nobody can even prove what they did. Do not let government control anything, and not private corporations not in your control.

[solimiansky]

The DA, the prison, counry jails, and the public defenders office are all in bed together. The number one objective is to send them to the hole!!!!!!

[candygir7]

Yes true, very true. I love that new movie with the judge's head blown off, have you all seen it?

[tygew]

@solimiansky I would NEVER have agreed with you before -- not till they threw me in jail for six months for a crime I didn't commit! It is 100% true that the public defenders (public pretenders) and the DA's office is in bed with the system. Their whole GOAL is to imprison EVERY MAN who is placed in their hands. The PD are NOT here to help us! They ONLY ask that you make a GUILTY "plea agreement" PERIOD!

[solimiansky]

@tygew u have to remember this its a BUSINESS. Sending people to court makes the court, the judges, the holding company (the people who hold the court papers) MONEY! Sending people to jail or prison for the littliest infraction is to make MONEY on ur imprisonment.

[barakHobama]

if blacks and mexicans learned to behave them selves there wouldnt be this problem

[EvitaAFD]

That is a racist comment barakHobama. It is people like you who reinforce the prison industrial complex. It is not about people behaving themselves it is about a governmental structure that will help some and not others. Most caucasians have access to many resources that are unavailable to many African Americans and Latino(a)s. You must be very ignorant to make a comment like that. This is the entire country's problem, not just one man's.

[barakHobama]

well i dont care its not my problem

[egnilk66]

Evita, why is it racist?

[EvitaAFD]

Because he said that "if the blacks and mexicans would behave themselves, we wouldn't have this problem." That is a racist comment.

[landsker]

Argentina decriminalised the use of drugs, so did Spain, and Holland, Portugal, Mexico,Canada, Britain, Belgium....Russia even.

C`mon Barak, get with the programme, tune in to the rest of the planet, and swim with the tide. The good woman is right, the US penal system is a racially biased cash machine for a tiny minority of cold-hearted capitalists. Good luck, and don`t give up!

[moonrice555]

I think I understand most of this--some is still confusing. If it is cheaper to send someone to college or rehab---why does the gov send them to prison instead? I guess the gov profits from people being in prison, I just don't understand HOW. I mean, sure, the gov gets all that tax money to pay for the prisons---but they just spend it on the prisons, so how do they profit from that? I wish more people could hear this woman speak.

[candygir7]

because the government contracts go to those who pay the most kickbacks to the corrupt politicians. rehab has been making tons of money for the looters of the world who loot nations. the war in Iraq is 8 years of 8 trillion, with a T, looted from our treasury.

[fraukus]

Until we dismantle the Prison Industrial Complex racism, class divisions and harsh sentencing for non-violent crimes will rage on. It's pretty absurd to think about how many people are in prison in this country. I'll guess that if we discontinued the War on Drugs the prison population would decrease by 20%. That's just one series of crimes. Educate, Rehabilitate ... don't incarcerate for petty non-violent offenses. Stop racial and class discrimination!!!

[Konicava]

@fraukus 50% or more.

[felixicon]

1/3rd.. im sorry i don't believe that. Watch what black man think.. also.. maybe bruh's who've been to jail or prison.. but IN.. nah

[itsnada1]

90% of court cases are plea bargained! You get more time for crack than you do for cocaine. Wackenhut makes money off of prisoners and Thurgood Marshall Jr. is their figure head. Bob Barker also is in the business of making slippers for prisoners. Georgia has a 2 strikes law!!!!!!!!! There is a complex for EVERY system in the United States of America. The corporate elite are hustlin us............

[hint0122]

are you drunk or just an idiot

[pillbattered]

Crime is naught but misdirected energy. So long as every institution of today, economic, political, social, and moral, conspires to misdirect human energy into wrong channels; so long as most people are out of place doing the things they hate to do, living a life they loathe to live, crime will be inevitable, and all the laws on the statutes can only in crease, but never do away with, crime.

-E. Goldman

[hint0122]

so it is the goverments job to make sure people dont break the law?

[BRP1968]

I think it's also important to examine what society at large views as "crime" and "criminal." Further to the point that Ms. Davis made, labels are placed on those who are imprisoned (whether justifiably or not) as "convicts" and "criminals" regardless as to what the circumstances are behind their incarceration, while at the same time, people in certain socio-economic strata commit deeds which are criminal, but are viewed as justified somehow because of their position.

[thawhiteazn]

Also, to base putting people in jail because you wouldn't want them in your home? I don't want to invite drunkards into my house or let people smoke cigarettes, but I don't want someone to go to jail for being drunk or smoking cigarettes. By your logic, maybe Mexicans should be locked up, because some people wouldn't want to invite them into their homes, or maybe black people, or Arabs.

[thawhiteazn]

Geez, what is with this hint0122 guy? Seriously man, what's your problem with weed? Obviously hint0122 is the most ignorant and bigoted motherfucker to ever draw breath, and no, I am not trying to exaggerate for effect, I am being quite literal. You can ask my mother what it's like to live with a pot head. I never stole a single penny from either of my parents, I mowed the lawn and did the dished for my money.

[hint0122]

kiss my ass dick.

[thawhiteazn]

I'm not sure what exactly that is. But I'm glad I struck a nerve.

[thawhiteazn]

Really? Doesn't sound like someone who was stoned. Sounds like someone who was drunk (maybe drunk and stoned) and if he was truely only high on weed, then he must have been a rare exeption. When I was arrested, I was polite to the officer and completely cooperative. And guess what, I was high. There is a difference between being a violent criminal, and being a stoner.

[hint0122]

my problem is that people think smoking weed is not a crime. WAKE UP, it is a crime. dont complain about getting busted.

[thawhiteazn]

I am an eagle scout and have been a christian my whole life. I never got detention ONCE in the entire time I was in high school (3/4ths of which I smoked weed). Weed is a crime because it is illegal, but that does not make it a just law. Alcohol used to be illegal. Does that mean that it was wrong only when it was illegal? Not returning escaped slaves used to be illegal as well. Don't give me this legal vs illegal bullshit man

[hint0122]

good for you. but there alot of people whom using weed led to other drugs that screwed up their lifes.

[thawhiteazn]

And there are alot who didn't. Because it is illegal, there is more access to hard drugs. You don't get hard drugs in a liquor store. You get hard drugs from a drug dealer, which coincidentally is also where you get weed. If you got pot from a store, rather than a drug dealer, you are never gonna meet the people that provide you with ecstacy, cocaine, acid, etc. Don't blame the weed, blame the laws turning an otherwise relatively harmless activity into a crime.

[thawhiteazn]

oh yea, and for the record, only about 1 in 100 people who use pot ever go on to abuse a hard drug.

[hint0122]

would you want one of your kids to be that one?

[thawhiteazn]

It's called good parenting. If you actually teach your kids about drugs, they'll probably listen.

[hint0122]

yes, but in the black families, there are no fathers.

[thawhiteazn]

well aside from what is most obviously wrong with that statement, black people are less likely to smoke than white people.

[hint0122]

says who?

[thawhiteazn]

well it's common sense. Because there are way more white people in this country, there are way more white pot smokers, meaning that any given pot head is most likely white.

[hint0122]

your reasoning is flawed.

[crustychi666]

no, man, he's actually right

[landsker]

Thankyou for posting this, from Ms Davis, a lady who has "been there".. The issue of drug use and criminalisation is a no-brainer. In Belgium, Holland, Spain.. and many other countries, folks can grow their own pot, and recreational use is a generally non-incarcerable offence. This policy has brought lower prices, and less jail inmates.

As Ms Davis mentions, the other damning statistic in the US is that the legal system is definitely biased against Black and Latino males.

[eleanick]

This woman supported the East German communist government which their wall to keep 17,000,000 East Germans for years was a prison because so many would want to leave, and of course the wall did come down after some 30 years, and not because of her. Has she appologized for that support? I understand her bitterness for the US . However, does that mean you support other dictatorships like the USSR? She called Solzynyzhen a fascist when he was against the USSR, and under their dictatorship.

[boils2]

The great thing about Angela is that she doesn't know how bad she smells. Really this 'woman' has no shame. With her odors she should be in jail.

[jnkojnko]

Violent crimes are committed every day in every city, it's quite evident that not nearly enough people are locked up.

[Tigobities12]

The majority that is locked up are non-violent "offenders" and are hispanic or african american. If you dont know what you're talking about then do the research and come to your own conclusions before trying to sound very educated!!! Thanks

[hint0122]

I got my ass kicked by a non-violent "offenders"

[hint0122]

if you really think that they are so non violent, let them live with you

[thawhiteazn]

I betcha he wasn't high on marijuana.

[LittlePinky82]

She's so right on. I wonder if she's now talking about a bunch of private prison's that are popping up over the country which is very dangerous because who do they account to? She's very right about who's in prison.

[candygir7]

@LittlePinky82 we do nothing about it and expect people like angela davis and others who already gave their lives to fight for justice which is not free or given to you by the evil criminals who run this country.

[LittlePinky82]

@candygir7 Well I can only speak for myself but one reason why I'm a criminal justice major (out of a couple of reason's) is to help change the system. Be a pos influence.

[freespeechlover6556]

A great lecture. Especially as she connects incarceration rates to drugs. It is ridiculous that the U.S. throws way more people in prison than any other Western country.

[hint0122]

we also have a problem of people breaking the law. you dont want to go to jail, obey the law.

[willdav713]

well hint0122, stop electing punkass polictican's who want to make fucked up laws such as making downloading illegal, smoking ordnances. Have them legalize gambling, marijuana, and prostitution. some of these people in office are related to Purtians those holy rollers who hanged witches. Laws need to be changed and violent offenders need to be in rehab centers not jails and prisons. Only Murders, and serial rapists and Serial Killers belong in prison. For the others what is the point?

[Tigobities12]

the law is there to please people like you "oh god please bless america" (thats what you say everyday right?)

[hint0122]

no the law is there to prevent people who dont want get robbed so some dick can put stuff up his nose or smoke dupe.

[sk8bum321]

So you'd rather punish the impoverished addict than treat and educate him or her?

[hint0122]

not all addicts are poor.

[bookworm313]

the ones robbing people are.

[hint0122]

what are you talking about

[hint0122]

if you trust them so much, take a few into your home.

[hint0122]

you really trust them so much, let them live with you.

[hint0122]

how about they get smart and dont use drugs? oh wait, that would be too easy.

[thawhiteazn]

How bout you get smart and stop drinking, because alcohol is also a drug. In fact, why don't we just make drinking illegal? Oh yea, tried that. Didn't work. What makes you think it's any different with weed?

[hint0122]

alcohol is legal dickhead.

[thawhiteazn]

it used to be illegal, cock sucker

[hint0122]

whats your point? just because it was legal or illegal doest change what it is now.

[thawhiteazn]

What's your point? If weed were made legal, then it wouldn't be a crime anymore, now would it. a-DUHH!

[hint0122]

if muder was made legal, then it wouldnt be a crime either idiot. it is a crime. just because you think it shouldnt be doesnt make it real

[thawhiteazn]

murder and smoking weed are too different things. Saying one should be illegal because the other one is therefor invalidates anything you have to say. Your obvious ignorance is what really shows that I am right and you are wrong.

[hint0122]

your the idiot.

[thawhiteazn]

a. it's you're, not your.

b. i never once said idiot

c. i'm rubber, YOU'RE glue, you know the rest

[hint0122]

and you are a idiot

[Tigobities12]

wtf is dupe...?? omgg i can tell your a douche bag with no reason of coexisting here in there world.. & i suggest you learn how to spell the term before u use it... haha!!!

[hint0122]

go screw yourself dopehead

[hint0122]

go fuck yourself asshole

[hint0122]

if you think they are so oppessed, invite them into your home.

[vadenvade]

exactly! invite them into your home! you speak truth. love heals not isolation....not subordination.... show and demonstrate love. thank you for those wise words!

[hint0122]

then when they steal and trash your house, dont complain

[TruthandJustice101]

Angela Davis is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT nowadays. She's just an academic dog and pony show who talks but doesn't walk.

[draghollow]

What we should do is let those blacks out of prison who committed a crime against anther black person. If they attacked a white person then leave them in prison. This way if they commit another crime it will only be the blacks who say there are too many blacks in prison that will be harmed.

[boils2]

what a gas bag pile of tenured puke this skank is.

[dxmkrew]

what a strong and extremely underappreciated woman.

[boils2]

what a gas bag pile of tenured puke this skank is.

[boils2]

what a bullshiiit commie skank this pod slut is. Hope she dies.

[newyorkbushi]

hope u die =)

[KTSEROV2351]

for something like murder i seen this on video: they take the condemned out, bury him in the sand u to the neck and shoot him in front of the face with a rifle

[KTSEROV2351]

while drug convictions for prison is very minor compared to murder, rape, and attempted murder, ya should see what they do for drug crimes in muslim countries and there is no telling what they would do to you if you committed something much more serious like the forementioned crimes

[meccabridgette]

yes i remember her but i never new of her purpose this is truly a must because i am expanding my history knowledge. Thank you sister marqetta X for sending these videos.

[djfu74]

Angela Davis sounds sexy as hell.

[eastside4blocc]

u aint lyin she used 2 look good bacc in da dayz 2

[YoungmillionaireFl]

This is where the new fight begins. The prison industrial complex must meet a reformation. Minorities are losing! Why are we seeing stats that show the deterioration of the black family...yet our black churches have not come together to witness to the prisoners and prisons are addressed.

[ladykeke2012]

yes she has talked on Death row if you know your history

[CreateABetterWorld]

Yes, Dr. Davis is a proud socialist, which means she believes in TOTAL democracy and all power to the people--not just freedom for the rich capitalist class. Why shouldn't we the workers own and democratically control our economy for humanity's interests (healthcare, education, food, housing, art)--rather than allowing the parasitic capitalist class to live in luxury while we toil for crumbs, millions starve, we die in their wars for oil, etc.?

[CreateABetterWorld]

Much respect to Dr. Davis! The struggle continues...

[telemanque]

what would make you say something so hateful as well as assanine?

[dkatzu2]

Too Bad this Communist BITCH can't comment from Death Row. May she and all Communists burn in Hell.

[JusMyNature]

you sound very ignorant...typical!

[dkatzu2]

If its "JUS YO NATURE" to believe anything this Commie idiot feeds you then I would expect anything RATIONAL to sound ignorant...TYPICAL !

[JusMyNature]

first of all who said she's a Communists? second of all what's rational about calling someone a bitch just for merely stating her views that may be different from yours? this is why i CALLED you ignorant. also, that is why you ARE ignorant. Have a good day!!!

[dkatzu2]

SHE Herself said she was a Communist. She bragged about it not more than 6 months ago on C SPAN. She was a Card carrying member in the 70's. She won the "STALIN (spit)peace prize" in 1979. As if that (SON)of a Bitch would have known or cared anything about peace. So maybe it is you who's IGNORANT for not Educating yourself on who your heros are. You have a nice day also.

[Greatsocratesghost]

What is your point?

[bobparis]

She ran for President on the Communist Party ticket, didn't she? I think that led to the persistent rumor that she was a Communist.

[telemanque]

peace to angela davis

[thawhiteazn]

If I had a choice between being a communist and being whatever the fuck you are, I would pick communist

[hint0122]

you are one since obama is a presdent

[thawhiteazn]

A communist? Haha, good one. If Obama being president means I'm a communist then you are one too, cuz I sure as shit didn't vote for him.