If The creek don’t rise
Collective History & Prison Abolition in the Southeast
The past must be recognized for what it is: shared history.
This digital humanities project identifies the gaps between theory and practice in prison abolition in the Southeastern region of the United States. To understand the ongoing issues with incarceration, one must fully realize how the prison system was formed and the Southeast was central to it. Almost 2 million people are incarcerated today in what is now known as the United States, and nearly half of those lives are detained in one region: the Southeast.
In contrast to other areas of the United States, the Southeastern region continues to be impacted by a history that harms its current residents. Southern legislators, deeply rooted ideology in Southern culture, and the region's post-Civil War treatment by the rest of the country contribute to this ongoing issue. The historical legacy of the South has influenced mindsets and perpetuated resentments, particularly between the North and South. It is important to acknowledge that the history of prisons, enslavement, and colonization in the United States is intertwined with white history, as well as Native and Black history. Living outside the Southeast does not erase this past. Blaming and judging Southerners hinders efforts to create a more equitable Southeast. It is crucial for those striving to end systemic oppression to recognize the diversity within the Southeast and offer support instead of dismissing it as a lost cause.
"If the Creek Don't Rise" implores those advocating for prison abolition to include the South in their movement. Understanding the significance of decarceration in the South is essential to dismantling mass incarceration and building a new world free from prisons. This project serves as a microcosm of memory culture, educating people about the historical relationship between the North and South and providing insights into the existing tensions. The Layered Histories section of the site juxtaposes the shared history and stories of the lands where prisons now stand in the Southeast with the current justice system, creating an ontological exploration. The Data section informs individuals about the incarcerated population in the United States and the South, highlighting the influence of culture on imprisonment rates. "If the Creek Don't Rise" offers recommendations for prison activists to support grassroots efforts in the South and outlines strategies for achieving prison abolition within a broader framework (Layered Futures). Ultimately, this project aims to inspire a collective desire to confront and heal from the past while moving forward together.
About The NAME
“If the creek don’t rise” is a slang phrase predominantly used in the Southeastern United States and can translate to “if all goes well.” It’s a more conditional action statement than the famous phrase “come hell or high water.” Many people use the longer form of the expression, “Lord willing and if the creek don’t rise,” as a typical response when invited to places and events.
James 4:15 in the bible is cited with various wordings and interpretations based on different Bible versions. Some believe that this term came from the idea that if a creek rose, there would be flooding, so people wouldn’t be able to show up places due to a natural or unnatural occurrence. “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise” indicates that a positive outcome depends on God’s intervention or blessing. The saying and verse share the acceptance of God’s will.
While the phrase maybe associated with a Bibal verse now it’s roots belong to the Muscogee Creek and Hitchiti, or the Creek Native American tribes. They are also of regional interest and are foundational to the colonization of the South. In the early 1800s,19 tribal groups formed the Creek Confederacy to stop land grabs by white colonizers. Creeks were taken captive by Europeans and faced violent destinies oscillating between ritual torture to full adoption. (Snyder, Christina, 258)
The Creek Wars started on Aug. 30, 1813, when a Creek Confederacy division known as the Red Sticks struck colonists north of Mobile, Alabama. Among the 400-500 white people killed in the Fort Mims Massacre were women, children, mixed-blood Creeks, and white male homesteaders. (Halbert and Ball,157) In recent years, the “creek don’t rise” phrase is accredited to this time of colonization of the U.S. and erasure and genocide of the native Creek tribes. (Scala)
By the Treaty of Fort Jackson, the Creeks surrendered more than 20 million acres, including all the territory of the Alabama Natives and, ironically, the Georgia hunting grounds of the Lower Creeks (who had sided with the Americans). (Waselkov,204)
The melding of history, religion, class, the displacement and killing of communities, and the politics behind the term “if the creek don’t rise” are the same underlying issues and principles surrounding incarceration in the South. Understanding them is the key to eradicating mass incarceration in the region.
Among Southerners, what states are a part of the South is a contentious topic. Some Texans don’t believe they are a part of the South. Some people think Arkansas is too far West. The researcher, who is Southern, chose these 13 states to represent the South in this work.
Tallulah River in Georgia
Red Stick leader Red Eagle surrenders to Andrew Jackson after the Battle of Horseshoe Bend - Jackson was so impressed with Red Eagle’s boldness to surrender in person that he let him go. (U.S. National Park Service)
