idaltus:

[image description: a set of tweets from kim moore @soulrevision 

tweet one: “90% of what we read, watch, and listen to is controlled by only 6 media outlets: disney, newscorps, GE, viacom, CBS, time warner. #hiphoped”

tweet two: “the largest holder in #CCA is vanguard group inc. vanguard is the 3rd largest holder in both viacom and time warner. #hiphoped #privateprisons”

tweet three: “when we understand how media conglomerates work and then dig into the shareholders of private prisons #hiphoped”

tweet four: “+ we easily see the connection between hip-hop and school to prison pipeline! #hiphoped”

tweet five: “corrections corporation of america (#CCA) is the larger private prison operator in the US. vanguard is their largest shareholder #hiphoped”

tweet six: “also, vanguard is the 3rd largest shareholder in the GEO group. GEO is the 2nd largest private prison operator in the US #hiphoped”

tweet seven: “vanguard does A LOT of investing in private prisons while being the 3rd largest shareholder in viacom and time warner #hiphoped”

tweet eight: “the people who own the media = the same people who own private prisons. it’s no surprise they use one to promote the other #hiphoped”

tweet nine: “so, when prisons present states with contracts that mandate 90% occupancy and crime is down, how do they fill those prisons? #hiphoped”

tweet ten: “you fill the prisons by filling the radio stations with music that targets youth and glorifies criminal lifestyles that lead to prison. #hiphoped”]

journalisticjoe:

soulrevision:

[For more on social justice, follow me on Instagram: soulrevision , Tumblr: soulrevision , Facebook: soulrevision , Twitter: soulrevision]

Every Tuesday night at 9pm EST there is an excellent twitter chat called #HipHopEd . Last night’s topic was, ‘What Is Hip Hop’s Role In The School To Prison Pipeline?’ I used this time to breakdown the connection between hip hop and private prisons, which fuel the School To Prison Pipeline.

While hip hop is not solely and directly responsible for the School To Prison Pipeline, it definitely plays a role as those who control what we listen to and see invest in private prisons.

CCA is the Corrections Corporation of America, they are the oldest & largest private prison company in the United States. Not only have they capitalized on the failed war on drugs by housing drug offenders, they also found a way to bring in new revenue by incarcerating undocumented immigrants.

GEO is the second largest private prison company in the U.S. and has facilities in the UK, Australia and south Africa.

When we dig into the financials, investments & shareholders of media conglomerates and private prisons, we begin to see some familiar names. Vanguard is one name that comes up frequently as their hands dip in both media interests AND private prisons. Not only is Vanguard the largest shareholder in CCA, they are also the largest shareholder in GEO. When you hold as much stock as Vanguard, it is easy to assume, and rightfully so, that there is enough power to decide what we see and hear on the radio and tv. 

*I know you all are sticklers for wording, so let me say that filling the radio stations with music that glamorizes criminal lifestyles and drug use is only ONE of MANY ways to help fill prisons when crime rates are down & companies like CCA are requiring 90% occupancy*

As always, please don’t take anything that I blog on here for fact. These are my truths as I have researched for myself, now I urge you to do the same. I have posted some links to help get you started. Let’s continue to learn and educate ourselves and others so we can work collectively to dismantle the the prison industrial complex!

Time Warner Cable Holdings: http://bit.ly/1qXjzJu

CCA Holdings: http://bit.ly/1mnlhMA

GEO Holdings: http://bit.ly/1oE9JJd

Letter sent by CCA soliciting states to keep prisons 90% full: http://huff.to/1qXiv8p

GEO website: http://www.geogroup.com/

CCA website (take a look at their board of directors, you’ll find a familiar name on there): http://www.correctionscorp.com/

- soulrevision

Kim stays dropping knowledge! If you’re on twitter I suggest you follow her. You WILL learn something new and informative everyday