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Date of Award

Spring 2020

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice; College of Arts & Sciences

First Advisor

Ana Maria Garcia

Abstract

It is well-known that there is significant economic inequality along racial lines in the United States; this is often seen as a function of institutional racism. While institutional racism is studied in depth by sociologists, its relationship to American capitalism is examined less often. Drawing from Marx’s conception of the capitalist economy and Carmichael and Hamilton’s work on institutional racism, I trace the relationship between capitalism and slavery throughout American history and conclude that racial equality is not possible under American capitalism in its current form. The reliance of the American economy on slavery before abolition cemented the place of African Americans in the working class. Immediately following abolition, laws known as Black Codes passed in Southern states, criminalizing basic actions by freed slaves. The discriminatory nature of the Black Codes led to the mass arrest of recently freed slaves, who were forced to work off their debt at plantations, mines, and railroads through a practice called convict leasing. Convict leasing replaced slavery in providing cheap labor for the Southern economy. 200 years of African Americans performing unpaid labor under slavery and 80 more years of convict leasing produced a significant economic disparity between African Americans and white people in the United States. This disparity continues to exist and worsen. Recognizing the interrelated nature of American capitalism and the enslavement of African Americans forces us to recognize that racial equality is not possible under American capitalism in its current form because of its historic and continuous relationship to slavery.

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American Capitalism's Basis in Slavery

It is well-known that there is significant economic inequality along racial lines in the United States; this is often seen as a function of institutional racism. While institutional racism is studied in depth by sociologists, its relationship to American capitalism is examined less often. Drawing from Marx’s conception of the capitalist economy and Carmichael and Hamilton’s work on institutional racism, I trace the relationship between capitalism and slavery throughout American history and conclude that racial equality is not possible under American capitalism in its current form. The reliance of the American economy on slavery before abolition cemented the place of African Americans in the working class. Immediately following abolition, laws known as Black Codes passed in Southern states, criminalizing basic actions by freed slaves. The discriminatory nature of the Black Codes led to the mass arrest of recently freed slaves, who were forced to work off their debt at plantations, mines, and railroads through a practice called convict leasing. Convict leasing replaced slavery in providing cheap labor for the Southern economy. 200 years of African Americans performing unpaid labor under slavery and 80 more years of convict leasing produced a significant economic disparity between African Americans and white people in the United States. This disparity continues to exist and worsen. Recognizing the interrelated nature of American capitalism and the enslavement of African Americans forces us to recognize that racial equality is not possible under American capitalism in its current form because of its historic and continuous relationship to slavery.