Instrument of the State

More about the book

Angola Prison, the largest and one of the most infamous state prisons in the U.S., was established on a former slave plantation in 1901. It has also been a significant site for music. Following a documentary project, author Benjamin J. Harbert visited Angola to gather oral histories and conduct archival research, revealing how music has been utilized by prisoners and the administration for over 120 years. The narrative includes renowned musicians like Lead Belly, Charles Neville, and James Booker, alongside many others who contributed to the prison's music scene but either died there or struggled to build careers after release. The exploration highlights how musicians carve out small yet vital freedoms through genres like jazz, R&B, country, gospel, rock, and fusion, expanding the definitions of "prison music." The book examines the prison's complex relationship with state power and the remnants of hope and joy amidst its brutality. By focusing on the experiences of incarcerated musicians, it addresses themes of violence, reform, prisoner rights, and the systemic issues affecting African-Americans, ultimately critiquing the harsh realities of the prison system and the exploitation inherent in a chronically underfunded state agency.