Regrets Surround Juneteenth. Does Slavery still Exist? Unfortunately it Does.

On this day in 1865, enslaved people in Texas were notified by Union Civil War soldiers about the abolition of slavery. This was 2.5 years after the final Emancipation Proclamation which freed all enslaved Black Americans.

As brutal and cruel as slavery was (and still is) imagine toiling for an additional 2 and a half years. That's a long time to endure the torture and harsh conditions.

In 1866, a year after the amendment was ratified, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina began to lease out convicts for labor.

This made the business of arresting black people very lucrative, thus hundreds of white men were hired by these states as police officers. Their primary responsibility being to search out and arrest black peoples who were in violation of ‘Black Codes’

Basically, black codes were a series of laws criminalizing legal activity for black people. Through the enforcement of these laws, they could be imprisoned.

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Once arrested, these men, women & children would be leased to plantations or they would be leased to work at coal mines, or railroad companies. The owners of these businesses would pay the state for every prisoner who worked for them; prison labor.

It’s believed that after the passing of the 13th Amendment, more than 800,000 Black people were part of that system of re-enslavement through the prison system

The 13th Amendment declared that "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." (Ratified in 1865)

It says,

“neither slavery nor involuntary servitude could occur except as a punishment for a crime".

???

Lawmakers used this phrase to make petty offenses crimes. When Blacks were found guilty of committing these crimes, they were imprisoned and then leased out to the same businesses that lost slaves after the passing of the 13th Amendment. This system of convict labor is called peonage.

The majority of White Southern farmers and business owners hated the 13th Amendment because it took away slave labor. As a way to appease them, the federal government turned a blind eye when southern states used this clause in the 13th Amendment to establish the Black Codes.

In South Carolina, if the parent of a Black child was considered vagrant, the judicial system allowed the police and/or other government agencies to “apprentice” the child to an "employer".

Some companies based in Pittsburgh used prison labor. The practice of using prison labor, also known as convict leasing, was common in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Prisoners were leased to private companies for a fee, and they were often used in dangerous and difficult jobs.

One of the most well-known examples of a company using prison labor in Pittsburgh is the United States Steel Corporation. The company used convict labor in its coal mines in Alabama in the early 1900s. The prisoners were often subjected to harsh working conditions and were paid very little.

Another company that used prison labor in Pittsburgh was the Carnegie Steel Company. The company used convict labor in its coal mines in Pennsylvania in the late 19th century. The prisoners were often used to build and maintain the company's railroads.

The use of prison labor in mining companies in Pittsburgh ended in the early 20th century. However, the practice of convict leasing continued in other industries, such as agriculture and manufacturing.

The use of prison labor is a controversial issue. Some people believe that it is a form of exploitation, while others believe that it provides prisoners with an opportunity to work and earn money. There are also concerns about the safety of prisoners who are used in dangerous jobs.

Today, the use of prison labor in the United States is still legal. However, there are strict regulations governing the practice. Prisoners cannot be forced to work, and they must be paid a fair wage.

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Remembering some Pittsburgh Heroes.

Byrd Rowlett Brown was a lawyer and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for improving life for Pittsburgh's African Americans and the poor through his long terms as president of the Pittsburgh Branch of the NAACP and his legal and civil work.

He led a march on Duquesne Light to protest unfair hiring practices. This work resulted in the creation of training programs for African-Americans so that they could gain admission into trade unions. Byrd Brown used his education to promote equality rather than to gain wealth. "Pro bono was his middle name," said former NAACP president Harvey Adams. He ran for Congress in 1970 and mayor of Pittsburgh in 1989.

Wilhelmina Byrd Brown was a civil rights activist and the mother of Byrd Rowlett Brown. She dedicated 50 years of her life to public service, working on issues such as housing discrimination, education, and voter registration. She was a founding member of the Pittsburgh Urban League and the Pittsburgh chapter of the NAACP. She was also a member of the Pittsburgh City Council from 1967 to 1971.

Homer S. Brown was a judge and the founder and first president of the Pittsburgh NAACP. He served as president for 24 years, from 1958 to 1971. He was a leading advocate for civil rights in Pittsburgh, and he helped to secure many important victories for African Americans, including the desegregation of public schools and the passage of fair housing laws.

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Next time you get the craving for an iPhone, cheap shirt at Walmart or Electric Vehicle it's good to know how stuff is made.

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Child labor is a serious problem in the cobalt mining industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). An estimated 40,000 children are working in cobalt mines in the DRC, some as young as six years old. These children work in dangerous conditions, often without proper safety equipment, and they are paid very little. They are also vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

There have been many clothing companies that have been accused of using sweatshop labor. Some of the most well-known companies include:

• Nike

• Adidas

• Gap

• H&M

• Zara

• Primark

• Forever 21

• Uniqlo

These companies have been accused of using sweatshop labor in a variety of countries, including China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Workers in sweatshops often work long hours for low pay in poor conditions.

They may also be exposed to hazardous materials or forced to work overtime without pay.

In recent years, some of these companies have taken steps to improve working conditions in their supply chains. However, there is still more that needs to be done to ensure that all clothing is made in a safe and ethical manner.

Here are some of the labor violations that have been reported in sweatshops:

• Low wages: Workers in sweatshops often earn very low wages, which can make it difficult for them to meet their basic needs.

• Long hours: Workers in sweatshops often work long hours, sometimes up to 16 hours per day.

• Poor working conditions: Sweatshops often have poor working conditions, such as inadequate ventilation, poor lighting, and dangerous machinery.

• Forced labor: Workers in sweatshops may be forced to work overtime without pay or be threatened with violence if they do not comply with the demands of their employer.

• Child labor: Children as young as 10 years old have been found working in sweatshops.

If you are concerned about sweatshop labor, there are a few things you can do:

• Research the companies you buy from: Before you buy clothing, do some research to see if the company has been accused of using sweatshop labor.

• Support companies that are committed to ethical labor practices: There are a number of companies that are committed to ethical labor practices. These companies often have transparent supply chains and pay their workers a fair wage.

• Speak out against sweatshop labor: If you see or hear about sweatshop labor, speak out against it. Let the company know that you are concerned about the way their products are made.

By taking these steps, we can help to ensure that all clothing is made in a safe and ethical manner.

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There have been allegations that sweatshops are used in the manufacturing of iPhones. In 2010, a report by the Fair Labor Association found that workers at a Foxconn factory in China, which manufactures iPhones, were working long hours, sometimes up to 16 hours per day, and were not being paid a fair wage.

Apple has since taken steps to address these allegations. The company has signed a code of conduct with the Fair Labor Association, which requires all of its suppliers to comply with international labor standards. Apple has also been working with the ILO and other organizations to improve working conditions in its supply chain.

However, there have been some reports that sweatshop labor may still be occurring in some iPhone factories. In 2017, a report by the China Labor Watch found that workers at a Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, China, were working 12-hour shifts, 6 days a week, and were not being paid overtime. The report also found that the factory had poor working conditions, such as inadequate ventilation and poor lighting.

Apple has denied these allegations, saying that it takes the issue of labor rights very seriously. The company has said that it is committed to ensuring that all of its products are made in a safe and ethical manner.

It is important to note that the definition of a sweatshop can vary. Some people may define a sweatshop as a factory where workers are paid very low wages and work long hours in poor conditions. Others may define a sweatshop as a factory where workers are not free to leave their jobs or are subjected to other forms of abuse.