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The purpose of this research is to examine the political, social, and economic factors which have led to inhumane conditions in Mississippi's correctional facilities. Several methods were employed, including a comparison of the historical and current methods of funding, staffing, and rehabilitating prisoners based on literature reviews. State-sponsored reports from various departments and the legislature were analyzed to provide insight into budgetary restrictions and political will to allocate funds. Statistical surveys and data were reviewed to determine how overcrowding and understaffing negatively affect administrative capacity and prisoners' mental and physical well-being. Ultimately, it may be concluded that Mississippi has high inmate populations which are disproportionate to that of staff. This conflicting reality is a result of improper funding by the Mississippi legislature, failure of legislators to prioritize the issue of correctional reform on the agenda, and general disinterest from the public. Several recommendations are made in the final chapter to address why the legislature should increase funding and how the funds should be used when obtained to improve the incarcerated population's quality of life and prepare them for, if eligible, a smooth transition back into society.

The current study assessed the impact of theater, as a health education intervention, upon knowledge of risk factors that contribute to hiv/aids and sexually transmitted infections among black males. Participants ( n = 124) were given measures to assess their hiv/aids knowledge and sexual behavior before and after the play "Lonely Words". Paired sample t-tests were used to investigate mean differences in the responses for each of the items on both the knowledge and behavior scales. Results indicated that there was an increase in total knowledge scores for black men after viewing the play. Theater also proved to be effective in increasing the likelihood of condom use among black men and an increased likelihood of black men discussing their sexual pasts with their respective partners. Such studies may assist in the design of behavioral interventions that may help reduce the risk of hiv/aids among a high-risk population.

A considerable amount of the literature on African American activism has been focused on the mainstream political participation and the civil rights and Black Power movements. Subsequent research in this era has primarily focused on the church and post–civil war reconstruction efforts. Few contemporary studies have assessed activist efforts among African Americans and the factors that may influence their involvement. The current study investigates what factors are related to activism among African American church members. To better understand the factors that influence activism, 187 African American church members from two Midwestern cities were sampled. Employing Pearson correlations and hierarchical regression analysis revealed that racial centrality, psychological empowerment, and activism each significantly influence activist behavior among African Americans. Given the zeitgeist of the times (i.e., Ferguson, Eric Garner, and the Black Lives Matter movement), further research is needed to understand what factors may encourage African Americans to become involved and effectuate change in their respective communities.