Instrument of the State: A Century of Music in Louisiana's Angola Prison

Built on the grounds of a former plantation, Louisiana State Penitentiary is one of the largest and most brutal maximum-security prisons in the United States. Despite notoriously inhumane conditions, people incarcerated at Angola have sustained a rich and dynamic musical legacy since the late nineteenth century, attracting folklorists such as John and Alan Lomax and Harry Oster. In Instrument of the State, author Benjamin J. Harbert interweaves oral history and archival research to show how incarcerated musicians find small but essential freedoms by performing jazz, R&B, country, gospel, rock, and fusion throughout the Twentieth Century, expanding folkloric definitions of prison music.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The Louisiana State Penitentiary, a sprawling and notorious maximum-security facility, stands as one of the largest and most brutal prisons in the United States. Nestled on the grounds of a former plantation, it bears the name "Angola," a nod to the country of origin for many of the enslaved individuals who once inhabited the land. Despite the notoriously inhumane conditions within its walls, the prison has a rich and dynamic musical legacy that spans over a century, drawing the attention of folklorists like John and Alan Lomax and Harry Oster. Renowned musicians such as Huddie William Ledbetter, Charles Neville, and James Booker have left their mark on this history, alongside countless others who contributed significantly to the prison's musical culture but faced challenges in pursuing their careers upon release.

In his book Instrument of the State, author Benjamin J. Harbert delves into the world of incarcerated musicians, exploring how they find solace and empowerment through the performance of jazz, R&B, country, gospel, rock, and fusion throughout the Twentieth Century. Through the fusion of oral history and archival research, Harbert expands the traditional definitions of prison music, shedding light on the ways in which music manifests among the incarcerated and the complex dynamics between the prison and its administration.

Instrument of the State serves as a powerful indictment of the carceral state, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the US penal system on African American communities. It exposes the exploitative practices of a deliberately underfunded state agency, which perpetuates cycles of poverty and incarceration. By examining the ways in which music intersects with the prison experience, Harbert offers a lens through which we can better understand the complexities of state power and the fleeting moments of hope and joy that persist amidst the harsh realities of captivity.

Through the stories of incarcerated musicians and their musical journeys, Instrument of the State invites us to reflect on the broader societal issues that contribute to mass incarceration and the urgent need for reform. It serves as a reminder that music has the power to transcend boundaries, connect people, and inspire change, even in the most challenging of circumstances. As we continue to grapple with the complexities of the criminal justice system, Harbert's book offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the human cost of punishment and the potential for redemption and transformation within the walls of a prison.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197517512