What comes up when you hear "conjugal visits"? Considering its spin in pop culture, likely sexual visits to incarcerated people from those on the “outside". But conjugal visits actually began in the early 1900s—with sinister anti-Black origins.
At Mississippi's Parchman Farm, the visits began for Black incarcerated men only. Prison officials brought sex workers each Sunday because they believed Black men had higher sex drives and would work harder in the cotton fields if they were sexually satisfied.
"You gotta understand that back in them days niggers were pretty simple creatures," said one 60s-era prison sergeant. "Give 'em pork, some greens, some cornbread, and some poontang every now and then and they would work for you."
Another declared, "If you let a nigger have some on Sunday, he will really go out and do some work for you on Monday."
Eventually, conjugal visits grew in popularity. In 1968, Reagan even backed them to "prevent" non-heterosexual relationships behind bars. But by 2022, only four states allow them, driving a shift from hypersexualization to desexualization. Both are dehumanizing.
Without a doubt, incarcerated people need quality time with loved ones. But the roots of conjugal visits show the clear intention of the prison system—to dehumanize, control, and exploit human beings. And that's a system we need to abolish.