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sdcookcenter.bsky.social
The Samuel DuBois Cook Center
@sdcookcenter.bsky.social
1.2K followers 160 following 310 posts
Advancing social equity via research, education, and policy.

https://samuelduboiscookcenter.org/
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"Darity, the economist and social scientist, virtually discussed the economic impacts of chattel slavery and what he referred to as modern-day government slavery, otherwise known as mass incarceration."
Citing a study by economist Thomas Kramer, Darity noted that the economic loss from chattel slavery was staggering. Using a 3% interest rate and accounting for all seven days of the week, Darity estimated an $18.6 trillion loss for those subjected to the system. At a 6% interest rate, that figure rises to an estimated $6.2 quadrillion. Drawing a parallel between mass incarceration and what he described as “government slavery,” Darity referenced his work with the California State Reparations Task Force, which analyzed disproportionate arrest and imprisonment rates of Black Californians. Based on the average civil service wage and an estimated 1.48 years of excess imprisonment of Black Americans, the task force calculated the lost wages at $159,272 per person, amounting to a total economic loss of $228 billion for the state. 
October 28, 2025 at 2:18 PM