The Brutal History of Prison Labor

# Stuff You Should Know – Prison Labor

This episode dives deep into the often-overlooked history of forced labor in American prisons, tracing how what started as an alternative to execution evolved into a system that's eerily similar to slavery itself. Josh and Chuck explore everything from indentured servitude in colonial America through the brutal convict leasing era in the post-Civil War South, where states literally rented out prisoners to private companies and plantations with horrifying consequences. They examine the devastating loopholes in the 13th Amendment, the rise of chain gangs, and how prison labor has evolved and persisted into modern times, revealing uncomfortable truths about who benefits from incarcerated workers and how these practices continue to affect people today.