140 years ago today Georgia ratifies 13th Amendment ending slavery.

[Toots]

on December 6th 1865 Georgia was the 27th state to do so and then the 13th Amendment could become law. Mississippi ratified the Amendment in 1995.

[CottonBear]

1. It took Mississippi 130 years to ratify 13th Amendment ?

This makes my state of Georgia seem positively progressive. :(

[mrfrapp]

2. TV Nation

Michael Moore's TV Nation had a memorable segment on this subject. Also, Kentucky held out for a long time too -- a 111 years, IIRC.

[Mutley]

3. "Mississippi ratified the Amendment in 1995."

I did not know that. Oh. My. God. :wow:

[harlinchi]

4. But the thirteenth doesn't!

There are provisions where slavery is legal, i.e., where it is allowed. As punishment for a crime for which one has been convicted, it is legal. The crimes which may result in such punishment are not spelled out; the provision, however, is clear:


Amendment XIII

Section 1. 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.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

[Toots]

5. I would not consider being on a road gang the same as being a slave

I do see your point though. Those prisoners do become Ward of the State and thus owned by the state. They are no longer Free individuals...

[harlinchi]

6. I know its a stretch but I also think it depends.

If one finds himself in a situation where what they had there was 'a failure to communicate', well, that's pretty close. If one is Black and finds himself there, I'd guess (and thankfully it's only a guess!) it'd be a little worse.