What does Coates mean by "the Gray Wastes" in his essay, "The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration"?

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In the essay, "The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration," Coates refers to the Gray Wastes as the rapid increase in the number of prisons and jails housing a vast portion of the U.S. population. This is a term used to describe the areas of the country where large numbers of people are incarcerated, creating a societal "waste" of people who are isolated from their families and communities.

What Does Coates Mean by "The Gray Wastes" in His