Mississippi State Penitentiary, more commonly known as Parchman Prison, has a deeply troubling history rooted in forced labor, particularly the practice of incarcerated people working in cotton fields under harsh conditions. Established in 1901, Parchman was designed as a penal farm, where prisoners—primarily African American men—were forced to work the land, continuing practices that many have described as “the closest thing to slavery that survived the Civil War.”
As the holiday season approaches, the question arises: Does Parchman Prison allow prisoners to take a break on Christmas Day, or are they still expected to toil in the fields?
Historical Context of Forced Labor at Parchman
From the outset, Parchman’s mission was clear: self-sufficiency through forced labor. The state of Mississippi acquired the land in the Mississippi Delta, including the Parchman plantation, and used incarcerated individuals to work the land. Prisoners were subjected to backbreaking labor, primarily in cotton fields, often working 12 to 15 hours a day under extreme heat and supervision by armed guards.
The system of labor at Parchman was not voluntary. In fact, many described it as a continuation of slave labor, with inmates, known colloquially as “gunmen,” enduring oppressive conditions reminiscent of slavery in its most brutal forms. During the holiday season, it was highly unlikely that incarcerated individuals received any form of respite. Work in the fields, especially on large agricultural operations like Parchman, was relentless, and holidays like Christmas were not an exception. Prisoners had little to no chance to take time off from the grueling labor that was often their only means of survival.
Changes in Labor at Parchman
By the mid-2000s, the forced labor practices at Parchman, particularly the use of prisoners in cotton fields, were largely phased out. However, the legacy of forced labor continues in some form. While incarcerated people no longer pick cotton, they still work in the fields, but now grow fruits and vegetables instead of the labor-intensive cash crops that once dominated the Mississippi Delta.
The Mississippi Department of Corrections has stated that the fieldwork is intended to address “inmate idleness”, which raises questions about the morality and ethics of continuing forced labor in a different form. Even though the work may be less grueling than the cotton-picking days, it still serves the institution’s goal of self-sufficiency and continues to enforce a system in which incarcerated individuals perform labor for minimal compensation or, in many cases, no compensation at all.
Christmas Day: A Day of Rest or Labor?
Though the Mississippi Department of Corrections has not explicitly outlined whether or not prisoners at Parchman are required to work on Christmas Day, it is likely that the culture of labor at the institution, historically and in modern times, does not recognize such holidays as days of rest. Given the long-standing tradition of forcing prisoners to work, it’s reasonable to assume that Christmas Day, much like other holidays, may have been treated as just another day for labor.
In other prison systems across the United States, it is not uncommon for incarcerated individuals to continue work assignments, including farm labor, even during major holidays. Though some prisons may offer holiday meals or small gestures of goodwill, the day-off tradition is not a guarantee in systems built on punitive labor.
A Changing Landscape
While forced labor in the cotton fields is no longer the cornerstone of Parchman’s operations, the broader issues surrounding labor in the prison system persist. The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery—except as a punishment for crime, a loophole that allowed penal systems across the country, including Mississippi, to continue utilizing incarcerated individuals for labor. This has led to a modern-day system of prison labor, which critics argue exploits prisoners for the economic benefit of the state.
As society continues to examine the legacy of slavery and its lingering effects, questions about forced labor in prisons—especially on holidays—remain highly relevant. Advocates for prison reform argue that no individual, regardless of their criminal status, should be forced to work under duress, especially on holidays like Christmas, which should be a time of rest, reflection, and connection with loved ones.
Though forced labor has evolved over time at Parchman Prison, the spirit of Christmas seems to have had little impact on the daily lives of incarcerated individuals. With the prison’s long history of exploiting labor, it’s unlikely that Christmas Day provides much respite for the men and women who remain under the Mississippi Department of Corrections’ control.
For many, the holiday season may remain a reminder of the harsh realities of life at Parchman, where the promise of rest—whether on Christmas or any other day—was never fully realized. As the state continues to confront the remnants of its history of forced labor, it is essential that the conversation continues around how prisoners are treated, particularly on days that should be celebrated for rest, unity, and humanity.