Dennis Childs

About the Author

Dennis Childs is a distinguished scholar and author whose work illuminates the enduring legacies of racial injustice in America's penal systems. Drawing from his expertise in African American studies and history, Childs examines how incarceration has evolved as a tool of state control, from the brutal chain gangs of the post-Civil War South to the sprawling modern penitentiaries that disproportionately ensnare Black communities. His incisive analysis in Slaves of the State: Black Incarceration from the Chain Gang to the Penitentiary reveals the continuities of slavery's shadow in contemporary prison practices, challenging readers to confront systemic oppression. A professor at the University of Georgia, Childs blends rigorous research with compelling narrative to advocate for abolitionist futures, making complex histories accessible and urgent for a broad audience.