Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness is a nonfiction book by american civil rights advocate and author michelle alexander. Ninety percent of those admitted to prison for drug offenses in many states were black or latino, yet the mass incarceration of communities of color was explained in raceneutral terms, an adaptation to the needs and demands of the current political climate. Feb 03, 20 the new jim crow discredited, advocates demand revision radical scholars and social justice activists say the popular discourse of the new jim crow promotes a false understanding of mass incarceration in the united states and serves to reinforce the status quo by quietly separating mass incarceration from its most defining and central features. Instant downloads of all 1297 litchart pdfs including the new jim crow. On this website we provide the reader with supplementary material, including links to material that will provide additional. Opponents of local civil rights activists raise a confederate flag in the bronx, july 1963 over the years, what many people recognize as the confederate flag, the stars and bars, which decorated several official flags that insurrectionists who fought against the united states flew during the civil war 18611865, has symbolized different types of american identity. The new jim crow is a political book that advocates for racial justice, especially for african americans. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Jan 08, 2018 the new jim crow, an awardwinning book by michelle alexander published in 2010, appears on lists of publications that inmates in state correctional facilities may not possess. Find out which partners in your local community you might work with to bring information about the new jim crow to public attention and begin to build partnerships. The new jim crow as the united states celebrates the nations triumph over race with the election of barack obama, the majority of young black men in major american cities are locked behind bars or have been labeled felons for life. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander and cornel west. After reading michelle alexanders, the new jim crow.
Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander. Book discussion the new jim crow university at albany. This book will change the way you think about criminal and judicial systems in the us. Welcome to the new america welcome to the new jim crow welcome to a world gone out of control i said, picked up, set up, sent down case opened closed i said, picked up, set up, sent down case opened closed please accept my sincere apologies for the heartless, for the useless for the people who have no soul left to give for the heartless, for. The new jim crow challenges the civil rights community and all of us to place mass incarceration at the forefront of a new movement for racial justice in america. The new jim crow summary and study guide supersummary.
This has led to a new racial caste system in the united states. Her chilling description of racism being the primary factor for higher incarceration rates among blacks and. The new jim crow kindle edition by alexander, michelle. Campaign to end the new jim crow center for law and justice. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander will pick up your everyday white liberal guilt, tie it in knots, and leave you wondering how you could have ever been so simpleminded as to think colorblindness was benign, let alone desirable.
I reached the conclusions presented in this book reluctantly. The book discusses racerelated issues specific to africanamerican males and mass incarceration in the united states, but alexander noted that the discrimination faced by africanamerican males is. Since it was first published in 2010, it has been cited in judicial decisions and has been adopted in campuswide and communitywide reads. It argues that federal drug policy unfairly targets communities of color, keeping millions of young, black men in a cycle of poverty and behind bars. It presents arguments and evidence that the civil rights movement in the united states in the 1950s and 1960s only partially succeeded in granting african americans equal rights.
Teachng the new jim crow the new jim crow by michelle alexander chapter 3 the color of justice imagine you are erma faye stewart, a thirtyyearold, single african american mother of two who was arrested as part of a drug sweep in hearne, texas. Michelle alexanders new jim crow raises drug law debates. Alexander believes that to stop this racial caste system, we need nothing short of a major social movement can successfully dismantle the new caste system. I am completely blown away by alexanders explanation of history from the end of slavery to the present. Apr 09, 2015 mass incarceration is not the new jim crow by r. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Praised by harvard law professor lani guinier as brave and bold, this book directly challenges the notion that the election of barack obama signals a new era of colorblindness. Praised by harvard law professor lani guinier as brave and bold, this book directly challenges the notion that the election of barack obama signals a. At this point, everybody and their mama has heard of the new jim crow.
Black and female in jim crow era, a reporter in jam. Those with a racist, anti black agenda in the southern states. Ten years ago, i would have argued strenuously against the central claim made herenamely, that something akin to a. With dazzling candor, alexander argues that we all pay the cost of the new jim crow. Many in the legal academy have heard of michelle alexanders new book, the new jim crow. Once in a great while a book comes along that changes the way we see the world and helps to fuel a nationwide social movement. Welcome to the new america welcome to the new jim crow welcome to a world gone out of control i said, picked up, set up, sent down case opened closed i said, picked up, set up, sent down case opened closed please accept my sincere apologies please accept my sincere apologies for the heartless, for the useless for the people who have no soul. The book begins by disproving claims that racism is dead. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness is a book by michelle alexander, a civil rights litigator and legal scholar. Watch michelle alexanders address to general assembly 2012 andor arrange for a showing in your congregation or group. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, by michelle alexander the new press, new york, n. After looking at a pamphlet, proclaiming that drug war is the new jim crow, the author ignored it as a theory promoted by a bunch of conspiracy guys. Jim crow laws were wiped off the books decades ago, but today an extraordinary percentage of the african american community is warehoused in prisons or.
The new jim crow discredited, advocates demand revision. Jul 17, 2017 the new jim crow author michelle alexander, george e. John legend quoted the books argument that more black people are imprisoned today than were. This important book, first published in america nearly 10 years. Feb 01, 2010 the warehousing of innercity youths, she writes, is a new form of jim crow under which drug offendersin jail or prison, on probation or paroleare denied employment, housing, education and public benefits. The warehousing of innercity youths, she writes, is a new form of jim crow under which drug offendersin jail or prison, on probation or paroleare denied employment, housing, education and public benefits. The new jim crow author michelle alexander, george e.
Jul 28, 2011 after reading michelle alexanders, the new jim crow. Assumptions in the new jim crow here are the notes from our discussion of assumptions in michelle alexanders article on thursday, february 23, and friday, february 24, 2012, followed by a few other assumptions i have identified. Dec 02, 2012 many in the legal academy have heard of michelle alexanders new book, the new jim crow. The new jim crow discredited, advocates demand revision radical scholars and social justice activists say the popular discourse of the new jim crow promotes a false understanding of mass incarceration in the united states and serves to reinforce the status quo by quietly separating mass incarceration from its most defining and central features. The new jim crow 1 january 2017 in michelle alexanders book the new jim crow, she shows how americas war on drugs has become a tool of racial segregation and how the discretionary enforcement of drug laws has resulted in an overwhelmingly negative affect on its black population. Seldom does a book have the impact of michelle alexanders the new jim crow. This is a powerful book on how the criminal justice system and which crimes we decide to punish has effectively created a new jim crow, where many african americans serve years of incarceration. Those with a racist, antiblack agenda in the southern states. The new jim crow, an awardwinning book by michelle alexander published in 2010, appears on lists of publications that inmates in state correctional facilities may not possess. Mass incarceration in the age of colourblindness by michelle alexander isbn. Jan 18, 2018 the new jim crow, a bestselling book about how mass incarceration has ravaged the black community, is banned by prisons in two states and can be difficult to obtain in others. The new jim crow highlights the racial dimensions of the war on drugs. Reading this book was a trip down the rabbit hole into an alternate universe where things many of us believe no longer happen in america are the new normal. Mass incarceration is not the new jim crow orchestrated pulse.
For many africanamericans, the book which has spent six weeks on the new york times paperback nonfiction bestseller list gives. It will shine a light on a new form of segregation based on race. Steve marioti, writing for huffington post, called it a must read for every american. Sonny perdue, who swept to office on a wave of white outrage over disrespect of the confederate flag, today signed a bill that would finally repeal discriminatory laws left over from the fight against civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s. One need only attend any number of legal conferences in the past year or so, or. Buy new jim crow, the reprint by michelle alexander isbn. Reading this book was a trip down the rabbit hole into an alternate universe where things many. Summary of the new jim crow by michelle alexandermore african americans are under the control of the criminal justice system today in prison or jail, on probation or parole than were enslaved in 1850. Mass incarceration in an age of colorblindness i realize that i had no idea what im up against.
Discrimination in housing, education, employment, and voting rights, which many americans thought was wiped out by the civil rights laws. Michelle alexanders brave and bold new book paints a haunting picture in which dreary felon garb, postprison joblessness, and loss of voting rights now do the stigmatizing work once done by coloredonly water fountains and legally segregated schools. One of the most influential books of the last 20 years. On the vine the new novel follows a black journalist in kansas city in the aftermath of the civil war. The new jim crow, a bestselling book about how mass incarceration has ravaged the black community, is banned by prisons in two states and can be difficult to obtain in others. Request for permission to reproduce selections from this book should be mailed. The new jim crow the new jim crow by michelle alexander chapter 4 the cruel hand today a criminal freed from prison has scarcely more rights, and arguably less respect, than a freed slave or a black person living free in mississippi at the height of jim crow. The new jim crow by michelle alexander overdrive rakuten. Barack obama character analysis in the new jim crow litcharts. This book of essays examines contemporary racerelated issues in the united states, focusing on the drug war, mass incarceration, and the emergence of a new caste system in response to the. Michelle alexander is right our justice system doubles as a racial caste system mass incarceration isnt just a system of control, its a political philosophy.
1531 582 200 593 1014 887 914 1046 839 1475 1256 625 280 606 1060 866 282 725 984 701 460 212 35 344 1018 356 1114 1337 1009 340 1021 655 1156 73 65 328 1346 730 226 721