The new jim crow

"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" is a book written by Michelle Alexander, a civil rights lawyer and professor, that explores the issue of mass incarceration in the United States and its disproportionate impact on African Americans. The book was published in 2010 and has since become a widely acclaimed and influential work on the topic.

In the book, Alexander argues that the War on Drugs and other criminal justice policies have created a new system of racial control in the United States, which she calls the "New Jim Crow." This system is characterized by the widespread incarceration of African Americans, particularly men, and the creation of a permanent underclass of people who are denied basic rights and opportunities due to their criminal records.

Alexander contends that the War on Drugs, which was launched in the 1980s, was a key factor in the rise of mass incarceration in the United States. The war on drugs led to the arrest and incarceration of millions of people, particularly African Americans, for non-violent drug offenses. This, in turn, created a massive prison industry that has become a major driver of the economy in many parts of the country.

Alexander also argues that the criminal justice system is designed to perpetuate racial inequality, and that the War on Drugs has been used as a tool to control and punish African American communities. She notes that African Americans are more likely to be arrested, charged, and incarcerated for drug offenses than whites, even though they use drugs at similar rates.

The book also explores the ways in which the criminal justice system has been used to disenfranchise African Americans and to perpetuate poverty and inequality. Alexander notes that many people who are incarcerated are denied the right to vote, and that those who are released from prison often face significant barriers to finding employment, housing, and healthcare.

Alexander's book has been widely praised for its insightful analysis of the criminal justice system and its impact on African American communities. It has also been criticized for its focus on the role of racism in the criminal justice system, with some arguing that it is too simplistic or that it ignores the role of other factors, such as poverty and lack of education.

Overall, "The New Jim Crow" is a powerful and thought-provoking book that sheds light on the ways in which the criminal justice system perpetuates racial inequality and social injustice in the United States.