The Angola Prison, officially known as the Louisiana State Penitentiary, is the largest maximum-security prison in the United States, located on an 18,000-acre former plantation in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. It traces its origins back to 1880 when the land, originally an 8,000-acre slave plantation named Angola, was converted into a prison camp by former Confederate Major Samuel L. James. James operated the prison under a convict leasing system that essentially perpetuated slavery through forced labor under brutal conditions, with inmates working in plantation fields, levee construction, and railroads[1][2][3]. In 1901, the state of Louisiana purchased the prison from the James family, taking direct control and attempting some reforms, though conditions remained harsh and violent for decades. The prison functioned as a self-sufficient community with farms, factories, and a mail system, but it was notorious for extreme brutality, racial segregation, and high rates of inmate violence. By the mid-20th century, Angola was widely regarded as one of America’s worst prisons, symbolizing the persistence of slavery-like conditions well into the modern era[1][4]. Key historical moments include the 1951 "Heel String Gang" protest, where inmates mutilated themselves to resist forced labor and cruelty, leading to the eventual abolition of corporal punishment at Angola[1][5]. The 1970s brought legal and reform efforts after the American Bar Association condemned the prison’s medieval conditions, culminating in court-ordered reforms to end abusive trustee systems and improve inmate treatment[4]. Today, Angola is still operational as a maximum-security prison but carries a complex legacy reflecting the intersection of American history, criminal justice, and systemic racial oppression. Notable aspects include its origins as a plantation, the continuation of forced labor practices, and ongoing efforts by inmates and reformers to improve dignity and conditions within the prison[5]. Angola remains a powerful symbol of the challenges facing the U