It's always been like this, Marianne, to varying degree, since "they" discovered the "new world."

Idk maybe during the indigenous genocide and white European supremacy part of early US history that we’ve never come to terms with

Become?

We were founded on cruelty, Marianne.

Since America was founded on stolen land. But as far as when did Americans become so cruel to the incarcerated, I’d say at about the time that the 13th amendment LEGALIZED slavery for anyone who was convicted of a crime. We’ve got worse ever since. The 1990’s was especially bad.

Perhaps the better question: how do we stop being so cruel? Cruelty is not inherent to our nature, but treat us poorly, disconnect us emotionally from each other, live in fear & we don’t empathize and stop caring-we become quick to punish brutally. Less punishing more caring?

1776

During slavery

Some of "us" have always been this way, but it wasn't always en vogue to flaunt it freely.

At some point around the beginning of the Triangular Trade Route