University of Texas at Austin professor Talitha LeFlouria delivered an insightful presentation on “the South’s most inconspicuous workforce” — incarcerated Black women — during a lecture Tuesday afternoon at Harris Hall.
The event, attended by over 70 community members, was part of the Chabraja Center for Historical Studies’ annual lunch lecture series, designed to foster discussions among faculty and graduate students on historical topics.
LeFlouria, a nationally acclaimed historian and award-winning author, is best known for her book Chained in Silence: Black Women and Convict Labor in the New South. This six-time award-winning work sheds light on the harsh conditions endured by Black women and their significant contributions to the Southern economy during the convict lease and chain gang systems in late 19th-century Georgia.
Reflecting on recent public discussions about convict leasing, LeFlouria shared that it has deepened her understanding of the practice’s history and her research.
“Now I see a book that not only highlights the impact of slavery’s legacy on Black women’s lives but also provides insight into the history of mass incarceration through (Black women’s) historical experiences,” LeFlouria said.
