US has no room to lecture other countries on their human rights. Why? The USA has legal slavery. The United States prison system has long faced scrutiny for perpetuating systemic inequalities and is a modern iteration of slavery. Despite the formal abolition of slavery in 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution contains a loophole that permits involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. This clause has been exploited to justify practices in prisons that many argue mirror the exploitative labor systems of the past. Prison populations and the use of prisoners as slaves has ballooned since the 13th Amendment.

Prison labor often involves inmates working for minimal or no pay, under conditions that are far removed from fair employment practices. Tasks range from manufacturing goods to agricultural work, often benefiting private corporations and state governments. For instance, prisoners might be paid as little as a few cents per hour, making it nearly impossible for them to support themselves or their families after release. Critics liken this to forced labor, especially when inmates are compelled to work under threat of punishment, such as solitary confinement or the loss of parole eligibility.

The racial disparities within the U.S. criminal justice system exacerbate this issue. Black Americans, who comprise roughly 13% of the general population, account for about 38% of the prison population. This overrepresentation draws disturbing parallels to slavery and its aftermath, where Black individuals were disproportionately targeted for labor exploitation.

Such practices undermine the rehabilitative goals of incarceration, fostering resentment and perpetuating cycles of poverty and recidivism. Instead of equipping inmates with skills for reintegration into society, the current system often reduces them to a cheap labor force.

Addressing this issue requires comprehensive criminal justice reform, including the abolition of exploitative prison labor practices and investment in programs that prioritize rehabilitation and education. Only by confronting these systemic injustices can the U.S. move toward a prison system that upholds human dignity and equity.

By comparison, China has no slavery of any kind. US accusations of the use of slavery in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China have been refuted by companies and by the United Nations as well. It’s very much a case of the US accusing others of what it, itself is guilty.