jailbirds
Jailbirds is a term used to describe convict laborers or prisoners who are employed in various industries, often under harsh conditions, while serving their sentences. This practice has a long history, dating back to ancient civilizations, with evidence of forced labor in Roman and Greek empires. In the United States, convict leasing emerged as a common practice in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the Southern states.
Convict leasing involved private companies renting prisoners from the state or local governments to work on
Jailbirds played a significant role in the development of various industries, including agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
Today, the term "jailbird" is mostly associated with the music industry, where "jailbird" or "jailbird blues"
The legacy of convict leasing and the labor of jailbirds serves as a cautionary tale about the