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. The new jim crow by michelle alexander by analiese barnes. The new jim crow argues that the ongoing war on drugs and the resulting mass incarceration of african americans is the moral equivalent of jim crow. The new jim crow is a book that gives a look on how discrimination is still and at some post more prevalent today than it was in the 1850s. With dazzling candor, alexander argues that we all pay the cost of 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.
This book is the companion text to collector james allens extraordinarily disturbing website of the same name. I cant remember a book thats brought more attention to a particular societal injustice in recent years. The segregation and stigma of race is still very much alive in our society. 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. 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.
Why you should read the new jim crow by michelle alexander. Then however the constructive and fundamental amendments to the. It will shine a light on a new form of segregation based on race. I reached the conclusions presented in this book reluctantly. The new jim crow the new jim crow is a book that gives a look on how discrimination is still and at some post more prevalent today than it was in the 1850s. This book will change the way you think about criminal and judicial systems in the us. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander and cornel west. John legend quoted the books argument that more black people are imprisoned today than were. 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. While the war on drugs, hopped up on federal funds and confiscated property, is systematically exploiting african. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness is a book by michelle alexander, a civil rights litigator and legal scholar.
The new jim crow by michelle alexander on blogcritics i thought that i understood racism. 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. 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. 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. With dazzling candor, legal scholar michelle alexander argues that we have not ended racial caste in america. Author michelle alexander dives into the justice system and explains how a lot of practices and beliefs from slavery times are just labeled differently now. 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 colorblindness, by michelle alexander the new press, new york, n. The author of the new jim crow and the new jim crow. Young readers edition both from the new press, she lives in columbus, ohio. 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. The new jim crow is a grand wakeup call in the midst of a long slumber of indifference to the poor and vulnerable.
At this point, everybody and their mama has heard of the new jim crow. In michelle alexanders book the new jim crow, she shows how americas war. 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. Watch michelle alexanders address to general assembly 2012 andor arrange for a showing in your congregation or group. 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. 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. Alexander is a visiting professor at union theological seminary and an opinion columnist for the new york times. Seldom does a book have the impact of michelle alexanders the new jim crow.
Jul 28, 2011 after reading michelle alexanders, the new jim crow. Alexander, michelle is the author of the new jim crow. The new jim crow summary and study guide supersummary. Ten years ago, i would have argued strenuously against the central claim made herenamely, that something akin to a. 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. The book begins by disproving claims that racism is dead. 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. The new jim crow by michelle alexander chapter 1 the rebirth of caste after the american civil war, the defeated southern states attempted to reassert their racial controls through a variety of legal measures. This week were focusing on michelle alexanders the new jim crow.
What has changed since the collapse of jim crow has less to do with the basic structure of. The new press, who believed in this book before i had even written a word and waited very patiently for the final. 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. A human rights nightmare is occurring on our watch. Plot summary the new jim crow is a political book that advocates for racial justice, especially for african americans. Day sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday.
Mass incarceration is not the new jim crow orchestrated pulse. This book seeks to analyze the issue of race in america after the election of barack obama. Called stunning by pulitzer prizewinning historian david levering lewis, invaluable by the daily kos, explosive by kirkus, and profoundly necessary by the miami herald, this updated and revised paperback edition of the new jim crow, now with a foreword by cornel west, is a mustread for all people of conscience. 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. Mass incarceration is the new form of jim crow laws because of its effects are not only similar but in its new form more effective. Beginning in the seventeenth century, institutions emerged in colonial america that contributed to the creation of a racial caste system. Chapter 5 the new jim crow states of denial how it works nothing new.
Summary of the new jim crow by michelle alexander includes analysis. It is required reading for anyone interested in criminal justice reform and racial inequality in the united states, especially when our president, donald. 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. A black man was on his knees in the gutter, hands cuffed behind his back, as several police. Its an absorbing and necessary look at an era in which the hardfought gains of africanamericans were rolled back by embittered southern whites an era that, in some ways, has never really ended. The new jim crow highlights the racial dimensions of the war on drugs. Praised by harvard regulation professor lani guinier as brave and daring, this book immediately challenges the notion that the election of barack.
The new jim crow is michelle alexanders eyeopening examination of the racial bias in americas criminal justice system and its impact on the african american community. Jan 16, 2012 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. After reading michelle alexanders, the new jim crow. 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. The new jim crow contradicts this denial of racism and criticizes peoples failure to care, really care across color lines. Mass incarceration is not the new jim crow orchestrated. Trebor adams the new jim crow in the book the new jim crow author michelle alexander goes in great about a racerelated social, political, and legal phenomena, which is mass incarceration. The new jim crow summary from litcharts the creators of. John legend quoted the books argument that more black people are imprisoned today than were enslaved in 1850. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness is a nonfiction book by american civil rights advocate and author michelle alexander. 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. Chapter 5 the new jim crow states of denial how it works.
Gates book is a fascinating social and intellectual history of the time between reconstruction and the rise of the jim crow period of american history. 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. Before writing her book, alexander was the director of the racial justice project at the aclu. Jim crow and legal racial segregation has been replaced by. The new jim crow themes the economy and jobs a large factor in the success of the war on drugs was its timing relative to what was occurring in the american economy, which was shifting from a manufacturing base to a service base. Alexander explains that ten years ago, she was suspicious of the claim that mass incarceration was a new jim crow, but. Since it was first published in 2010, it has been cited in judicial decisions and has been adopted in campuswide and communitywide reads. 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. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new releases. The new jim crow argues that the ongoing war on drugs and the resulting mass incarceration of african americans is the moral equivalent of jim crow beginning in the seventeenth century, institutions emerged in colonial america that contributed to the creation of a racial caste system. The birth of jim crow the death of jim crow the birth of mass incarceration chapter 2 the lockdown. Mass incarceration in an age of colorblindness i realize that i had no idea what im up against.
Michelle alexander is a civil rights attorney and the author of the new jim crow. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, published 2012 under isbn 9781595586438 and isbn 1595586431. New press, who believed in this book before i had even written a word and waited very. Instead of a formalized institution such as slavery or jim crow, america has found a new way to continue the marginalization of blacks by using the criminal justice system. 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. Those who believe that full equality been achieved would do well.
R1 1 1 dismantling the new jim crow 2 whereas, paul in galatians 3. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander. The new jim crow kindle edition by alexander, michelle. Steve marioti, writing for huffington post, called it a must read for every american. Apr 09, 2015 mass incarceration is not the new jim crow by r. 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. Per last week, the conversation will take place in comments below. Reading this book was a trip down the rabbit hole into an alternate universe where things many of us believe. The text includes many of the postcards and photographs taken as souvenirs at lynchings all across america during the jim crow years, a document for anyone skeptical of the reality of this grim piece of united states history.