Blacks: From the Plantation to the Prison

Blacks: From the Plantation to the Prison brings clear insight to the transition that Blacks have made throughout history and is continuing to make. Many Blacks today are still faced with the plantation mindset, resulting in them heading swiftly to the prisons. This mindset often acts as a crutch or discourager of success. It also rejects taking risks. As we know, high risks equal high rewards and these risks can be mitigated through a series of contingencies and thoughtful research. However many Blacks are often afraid to take the great risks for great rewards. The lack of education is a high factor in the poor decision-making dilemma and obtaining education through various means can counteract many of the plights Blacks encounter. Instead, we typically fall in line with the trends, cultures and way of life that we have inherited or that is being fed to us. We don t question the reasoning behind our ancestors while growing up. As our ancestors age and decide to explain the reasons behind many of their actions, by that time we feel it s too late to listen to a grumpy old person. Rather than listening with the notion of swallowing the meat and spitting out the bones , we elect not to listen at all. We disregard to abundant wisdom our predecessors have to offer. Grave decision. What this does is causes us to perpetuate a past behavior that does not apply to present situations. Many of our predecessors did things or acted in ways that was a defense mechanism because of a plight(s) that they were facing. It is often said that success is not secret and this is true! However, since success first begins in the mind, tapping into success is where many blacks fall short. It is not necessarily the fault of Blacks. We previously weren t allowed to tap into the success in our minds. But we are fully to blame if we are unable to tap into this success today. There are Black teachers, judges, police officers and many more who set the example or impart wisdom into our kids on a daily basis. Our kids not grasping the example they set is a collective epidemic. Today, Blacks in America are still trying to navigate through a system that was not created with our success or progress in mind. When the United States Constitution was written, the founding fathers only acknowledged Blacks as property. To date, the Constitution has never been re-written. Instead there are amendments upon amendments, band-aids upon band-aids being placed on a covenant that actually needs surgery. This book draws an obvious connection with the Plantation System and the Prison System. This book exposes many of the problems that plagued the Black community and how those problems translated into crime and prison. It offers solutions that the Black community can employ to reduce the high volume of Black inmates in the U.S. Prison system. Statistics show only 6% of jobs in America can be applied for without a high school education. 60% of incarcerated males are high school dropouts and 70% of all high school dropouts get arrested. There s a correlation with non-education and prison, among other things. This book helps to counteract the popularity of prison by drawing a line from the plantation.