Color Quote by Angela Davis
“One of the reasons that so many people of color and poor people are in prison is that the deindustrialization of the economy has led to the creation of new economies and the expansion of some old ones – I have already mentioned the drug trade and the market for sexual services. At the same time, though, there are any number of communities that more than welcome prisons as a source of employment. Communities even compete with one another to be the site where new prisons will be constructed because prisons create a significant number of relatively good jobs for their residents”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Prison Economics, 1990s
Economic shifts created new illicit markets and made prisons attractive job sources for disadvantaged communities, reinforcing incarceration rates.
In simple terms: Deindustrialization fuels prison growth and jobs in poor areas.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how policy shapes economic incentives.
Themes
inequality
prison
economics
employment
race
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociopolitical
policy
When to use this quote
- community development
- criminal justice reform
- job creation
- urban planning
Key Concepts
structuralism
political economy
social policy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do economic policies affect incarceration rates?
- What alternatives exist for community employment?
A Different Perspective
Prisons may not be sustainable long‑term economic solutions.
