In her book, Are Prisons Obsolete, Angela Davis writes, "To understand the social meaning of the prison today within the context of a developing prison industrial complex means that punishment has to be conceptually severed from its seemingly indissoluble link with crime" (85). The case of Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill illustrates her point but perhaps offers some hope.
Meek Mill has been on probation since 2008, a total of ten years now. He was initially arrested on drug charges. He was imprisoned again in November of 2017 because he violated his probation by popping wheelies on his dirtbike (yep) and because of a physical altercation he had at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis. The charges from the altercation were dropped. Meek Mill and those close to him were quick to connect his case to a larger pattern of abuse and racism within the criminal justice system. In an interview with CNN, Mill's attorney Joe Tacopina said, "(Meek's) frustrated, really frustrated and knows he's being treated different than anyone else. If his name was John Smith, he wouldn't be in jail and he certainly wouldn't be on probation." He went on to say, "He's been on probation for nearly 10 years. Nobody goes on probation for 10 years." Brinkley has been accused by many different parties of taking an interest in Mill, and of abusing her power to enact some sort of a vendetta against him. She has denied him bail multiple times. She has largely remained silent about this case despite the massive backlash she has received. Fellow rappers Jay-Z and Drake are among the many who have publicly spoken out on behalf of Mill. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner also publicly condemned her sentence. In a written statement, Brinkley said it was "absolutely necessary" that Mill be sent back to prison.
Mill's case is unfortunately not unique. His case is a product of the prison industrial complex, which exists to profit. Online racial justice initiative Color of Change set up a website on behalf of Mill called #freemeekmill. On the home page it says, "Probation and parole are one of the biggest drivers of mass incarceration. Did you know you can be put in jail by your probation officer if they think you violated probation or parole before trial without any possibility of bail." Color of Change is correct in identifying the larger pattern of abuse that has affected Mill. He is one of many who have been punished in this way. Davis identifies mass incarceration as a carryover from slavery and post-civil war practices. She writes, "Moreover, the prison privatization trends—both the increasing presence of corporations in the prison economy and the establishment of private prisons—are reminiscent of the historical efforts to create a profitable punishment industry based on the new supply of "free" black male laborers in the aftermath of the Civil War" (93-94). Prejudiced judges like Brinkley thrive in this system; after all, they are an essential part of it. At the heart of mass incarceration is the issue of racism.
To the vast majority of observers, it seems as though Mill's punishment was an excuse to put him in jail. Fortunately, Meek Mill seems to have some hope of appealing Brinkley's decision. Thanks to the work of activists and Larry Krasner, Brinkley was formally removed from Mill's case on April 6th (two days before I wrote this, in fact). Moving forward, the Pennsylvania supreme court will be responsible for making decisions regarding his imprisonment. This victory is not complete. Brinkley is still a judge, and there are still thousands of others who are being abused in the same way that Mill is. At the very least, his celebrity has shined a harsh light on the Philadelphia court system, and it seems as though Mill is on a path to achieve justice for himself.
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