Where Are the Daddies? The Rise of the Post-Industrial Carceral State

Many African American fathers are missing from their communities. The rise of the post-industrial carceral state is a key factor that is responsible for their absence. America’s transition from an industrial society to a post-industrial society caused the disappearance of many good-paying blue-collar jobs that were held by African American workers. This led to high levels of unemployment, which adversely affected the African American community’s social organization. Therefore, the carceral state was created to control a disaffected urban population—especially African American men—who have become displaced.