Prison System In Tennessee: A Cycle Of Racism And Control
Tennessee likes to call itself âtough on crime.â But what that usually means is locking up kids too young, targeting Black and brown communities, and pouring public money into the private prisons that exist because of an exploitative and racist system. Growing up in rural Tennessee, I saw punishment take priority over real support at every turn. There was a kid in my high school who came to class daily on downers â probably Xanax, which we all knew he sold. My teacher would pull him into the hallway to talk, trying to keep him awake and connected.