Hey folks, following up on our conversation about juvenile rights with Josie Duffy Rice last week,

we wanted to share an episode of her new podcast, Unreformed. Unreformed is the story of how mount

megs of reform school in Alabama derailed the lives of thousands of black children for decades,

and what happened after someone blew the whistle. In the series debut, we hear from a woman who

managed to escape mount megs. She was determined to tell someone about the abuse she had suffered

there, the unlivable facilities, and the grueling labor students were forced to do in the surrounding

fields. But what's most unbelievable about this story is that mount megs is still open today.

To hear the rest of the series, you can find Unreformed wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast episode discusses historical events that include physical abuse against children.

Earlier this year, I drove from Atlanta where I live to Mount Gumriale, Alabama.

It's about a three hour drive, depending on traffic. I've been to Mount Gumri plenty, but this

time was different. In fact, I wasn't going to the city of Mount Gumriale, but to a little

unincorporated part of the county called Mount Megs. I was there to set foot on the grounds of an

old Alabama institution that I'd spent the last year investigating. It was hot outside, over 90 degrees.

I drove down a long road looking for my destination, but other than a few houses, it was most

empty until you pull up to the entrance. It's a long, huge stretch of land right by the highway

in an area of Mount Gumriale. There's really not much, which is sort of saying something,

because Mount Gumriale isn't the most happening town anyway. When you pull in on your right is a huge

stretch of like swamp land filled with sticks and scum and mud.

Outside of the entrance to the actual youth center, you just see gates and

fog bar fence, and it looks like a prison.

So I drove up the long driveway, lined with trees. I drove past the visitors building,

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