Department of Justice Peonage Files

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution which outlaws slavery and certain forms of involuntary Servitude. The files pertain to complaints made by persons (victims) who were being held against their will or forced to work off debts through threats and intimidation by employers or others. Most of the victims were negroes who were beaten to return to former employers to work off their debts. The files contains correspondences, memorandums, telegrams, newspapers clippings, transcripts or testimonies, FBI reports of investigation and indictments.

Please join Host and Author Antoinette Harrell and her guests Professor Clare J. Washington and students in the Black History Studies Department at Portland State University for and discussion on the host newly released book " Department of Justice" Involuntary Servitude, Slavery and Peonage. http://www.antoinetteharrell.com