Introduction of the new jim crow by michelle alexander. For anyone who hasnt read the new jim crow by michelle alexander, now is the time to pick it up from your local bookstore, purchase it on amazon, or check it out from your towns library. Here is law professor james formans critique of the new jim crow. With dazzling candor, alexander argues that we all pay the cost of the new jim crow. Michelle alexander is the author of the bestseller the new jim crow, and a civilrights advocate, lawyer, legal scholar and professor. The introduction begins with alexanders comparison between an incarcerated africanamerican man today and the mans ancestors who, like him, were denied basic rights as a result of slavery and jim crow, respectively. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, in which she argues that the get tough on crime policies that began in the early. 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 introduction and chapter 1 summary and. After reading michelle alexanders, the new jim crow. 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. 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.
Michelle alexander is a highly acclaimed civil rights lawyer, advocate, legal scholar and author of the new jim crow. Forman mostly agrees with alexander but offers an argument for jettisoning the jim crow framing. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. 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. 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 prevalent among other minorities and socioeconomically. However, former champions of the book and those seeking social change are quickly turning on. 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. 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. It landed on bestseller lists, was discussed in the media endlessly, made alexander an activistscholar hero, and led to many subsequent handbooks and publications on how to bring its prescriptions for a better criminal justice system to fruition.
As a facilitator, i read the entire book and also used the study guide to bring things into focus and word discussion items. Mass incarceration in the age of colourblindness by michelle alexander is published by penguin. Request for permission to reproduce selections from this book should be mailed. 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. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness is a book by michelle alexander, a civil rights litigator and legal scholar. Mass incarceration the age of colorblindness, which has garnered a huge following and spawned an allegedly new designation for racial inequity in the united states. Watch michelle alexanders address to general assembly 2012 andor arrange for a showing in your congregation or group.
With dazzling candor, legal scholar michelle alexander argues that we have not ended racial caste in america. State of wonder by ann patchett, twilight of the elites. The new jim crow by michelle alexander on blogcritics i thought that i understood racism. 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. Alexander explains that ten years ago, she was suspicious of the claim that mass incarceration was a new jim crow, but. 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.
Reprinted in his book the insecurity of freedom jewish publication society, philadelphia 1966 chapter 1 describes the historical transition from slavery to jim crow to the new jim crow. 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. When she first encountered the new jim crow metaphor on a protest sign in oakland, calif. West concludes that the book will cause an awakening in which people will come to truly care for each other, and will help lead to a revolution in which ordinary people regain power. Seldom does a book have the impact of michelle alexanders the new jim crow. But after several weeks of discussing michelle alexanders book, the new jim crow. Over the past two weeks, ive both watched the netflix documentary th and read the book it was based on the new jim crow by michelle alexander. I was glad i used the study guide as our book club studied the new jim crow by michelle alexander.
This book taught me an amazing amount about the facts and results of what the author calls the new jim crow the war on drugs, and the changes in legal and policing procedures that followed upon it. The classic, bestselling book on the psychology of racismnow fully revised and updated. Instant downloads of all 1297 litchart pdfs including 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. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Since the new jim crow was first published in 2010, it has spent nearly 250 weeks on the new york times. Michelle alexander reflects on how her book, hardly an immediate bestseller, encouraged a discussion about criminaljustice reform and. The new jim crow was an undeniable phenomenon when it came out. 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. Mass incarceration is the gateway to the new jim crow, alexanders concept for understanding how black people in particular lack any real rights of citizenship. Mass incarceration in an age of colorblindness i realize that i had no idea what im up against. Although jim crow laws have been wiped off the books, an astounding percentage of the african american community remains trapped in a subordinate status much like their.
Before writing her book, alexander was the director of the racial justice project at the aclu. 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. Those who believe that full equality been achieved would do well. Steve marioti, writing for huffington post, called it a must read for every american. The new jim crow highlights the racial dimensions of the war on drugs. John legend quoted the books argument that more black people are imprisoned today than were enslaved in 1850. Law enforcement has almost carte blanche to stop people in cars and in the streets all the while claiming it is not for racist reasons. The book begins by disproving claims that racism is dead. Michelle alexander talked about her book, the new jim crow.
At this point, everybody and their mama has heard of the new jim crow. Why you should read the new jim crow by michelle alexander. The documentary does a fine job of summarizing the book and the book offers the documentation and detail for those wanting to verify the claims of the documentary. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness the new jim crow. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle. A human rights nightmare is occurring on our watch. Litigatorturnedlegalscholar michelle alexander, author of the new jim crow, argues that we have not ended racial caste in america, we have simply redesigned it. 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. This book will change the way you think about criminal and judicial systems in the us. We each took one chapter in the book to read and share highlights and insights with the group.
The new jim crow contradicts this denial of racism and criticizes peoples failure to care, really care across color lines. It makes me ashamed for the evils my country has inflicted yet again on its black population. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander. Praised by harvard law professor lani guinier as brave and bold, this book directly challenges the notion that the election of. This important book, first published in america nearly 10 years ago, explains how the us justice system works against black people.
It is required reading for anyone interested in criminal justice reform and racial inequality in the united states, especially when our president, donald trump, has nominated senator jeff sessions to be. Reading this book was a trip down the rabbit hole into an alternate universe where things many of us believe. The new jim crow discredited, advocates demand revision. 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 the bestselling book that helped to transform the national debate on racial and criminal justice in the united states. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander and cornel west. One of the most influential books of the last 20 years. For the last couple of years social justice advocates have loudly sung the praises of michelle alexanders book the new jim crow. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, by michelle alexander the new press, new york, n.
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