Loretta Thurwar and Hurricane Staxxx are two of the greatest all-star fighters in history. Each woman has risen through the ranks of prisoners competing for their freedom. They have signed contracts to be contestants in for-profit showdowns arranged for regular broadcasts. Fans wear uniforms with their idol’s names. They follow every social media posting and watch special profiles of their heroes. They send fan mail and scream their heads off during matches. They weep over losses and glumly trudge to work when their heroes fail them. Televised fighting matches end when an opponent is killed.
Adjei-Brenyah holds tight reins on prose that indicts America’s system of incarceration and its failed acts of correction. He brings to light a system that overwhelmingly and disproportionately jails people of color. He never excuses criminal behavior, but also clarifies that solitary confinement, tasing, and beatings by guards does not repair broken individuals, nor do the slightest toward preventing future crimes. He does it all by humanizing all-star fighters like Loretta and Hurricane who are dehumanized by their required acquiescence to their guards every request and who must live every moment under watch.
Chain Gang is also an indictment of American football without once mentioning the sport. America’s most popular sport is akin to gladiatorial combat in Ancient Rome’s coliseum. A majority of players are black. All will be injured. Many will suffer irreversible brain injury and die early. The harder they hit one another the louder we scream in ecstasy. Chain Gang is an important read.