ANGOLA PRISON. Next on my agenda is to visit what was once the worst prison in America...where, in 1933, Alan Lomax recorded Lead Belly, and obtained a pardon for him because of his music. ANGOLA PRISON, aka “The Farm,” Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. “…the most important event in the history of southern penology was the Civil War.” M. Carleton. 13th Amendment to U.S. Constitution: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” 2008. Blackmon , D. Slavery by Another Name. Won Pulitzer Prize. Slavery restored in the 1870s, after the end of Reconstruction, by use of convict slavery. Calendar of Important Events at Angola Prison 1840s: Angola Plantation, privately owned and run. 1835. The Walls, prison opened in Baton Rouge. Progressive, Quaker-style, with single cells, high perimeter walls. 1870. Angola Plantation, acquired and now farmed by leased convicts for slave labor. The State of Louisiana farms out its prisoners to Angola and elsewhere, after the end of Reconstruction. “The Farm” produces cotton, provides work on levees on the Mississippi River. 1901. State of Louisiana purchased Angola property to use as prison. For the first half of the 20th century, Angola was Louisiana’s only prison. Later St. Gabriel was added. 1928-1932. Huey P. Long Governor. Angola Prison, which had operated at a loss, with St. Gabriel, because of corruption, was now put on a “paying basis.” 1933. LEAD BELLY. Folk Music Collector Alan Lomax visits Angola and meets Huddie Leadbetter, aka Lead Belly, in prison for murder: later pardoned for murder and attempted murder (both in Texas and in Louisiana) because of his music (e.g.his version of “The Midnight Special,” and his own song “GoodNight, Irene,” made popular by The Weavers in the late 1940s). 1970s--REFORM ERA BEGINS: Previously described as the worst prison in America. 1972-80. Governor Edward Edwards appointed Commission to report on Angola, after Heel-Cutting Incident. Edwards appoints Paul Phelps as Director of Corrections. 1968-1975: C. Murray Henderson-- Warden. Department of Corrections created. 1965. Angola Prison Rodeo begun. 1972: Gates v Collier: Prison Reform lawsuit filed. 1975. Federal Court—Judge Gordon West-- took control of Louisiana State Prison system, including Angola, finding conditions there “cruel and unusual.” Report of Federal Magistrate (later Federal District Judge) Frank Polozola. 1970s-1980s. New Prisons opened: Margaret Dixon Correctional Institute (Jackson), The Hunt Prison (St. Gabriel), Wade Correctional Institute (near Haynesville), the Washington Parish Prison (Vanado). Work Training Centers: Camp Beauregard (near Alexandria), and Jackson Barracks (New Orleans). 1975-1984. Ross Maggio, Warden. 1980-1984. Governor Dave Treen. 1982: All Louisiana Jails under Federal Court Order: Judge Polozola. 1984-1988. Governor Edwin Edwards (again). 1988-1992. Governor Buddy Roemer. 1992-1996. Governor Edwin Edwards (again). 1995--present: Burl Cain, Warden. 2012: 12 Units in LSP System, of which Angola is Maximum Security Unit. Inmate Population of Angola = 6000+ References The Angolite. Prison newspaper of Angola—Louisiana State Penitentiary. Blackmon, D. (2008). Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black America from the Civil War to World War II. Anchor Books. Butler, A., & Henderson, C.M. (1990). Angola: Louisiana State Penitentiary. A Half-Century of Rage and Reform. University of Southwestern Louisiana. Henderson was former Warden at Angola, and Director of the State Correctional System. ___________________________ (1992). Dying to Tell. Angola: Crime, Consequence, Conclusion at Louisiana State Penitentiary. University of Southwestern Louisiana. Cain, Burl. (2005). Cain’s Redemption: A Story of Hope and Transformation in America’s Bloodiest Prison. Northfield Publishing Co. Cain was former Warden at Angola. Carleton, M. (1971/1980). Politics and Punishment: The History of the Louisiana Penal System. Louisiana State University Press. Foster, B., Rideau, W., & Dennis, D. (1995). The Wall is Strong: Corrections in Louisiana. 3rd ed. University of Southwestern Louisiana. Rideau & Dennis were two inmates at Angola, and editors of The Angolite, the Prison Magazine. “Lead Belly,” Retrieved from Wikipedia. 2014. Famous Black Folk Musician. Convicted of murder in Texas, and pardoned by Governor. Sentenced to Angola for attempted murder. pardoned by Governor on petition of Alan Lomax. Cf. The Lead Belly Foundation. leadbelly.org. Prejean, Sister Helen. (1992). Dead Man Walking. Random House. Anti Capital Punishment book, later made into 1995 movie.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 03:39:47 +0000
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