The New Jim Crow Analysis

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the age of colorblindness.
There are more African Americans under correctional control today, in prison or jail, on probation or parole then where enslaved in 1850s. Civil Rights advocate and writer of The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander acknowledges in her book that the African American community is suffering more than the non-colored people when it comes to the U.S Justice system. Alexander introduces the book with a story about a man names Jarvious Cotton. Cotton was not allowed to vote just like his grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather because of the history behind their color. Cotton’s great-great-grandfather could not vote as a slave. His great-grandfather beaten to death
“Most people of any race would probably condemn the minstrel show but stop short of condemning the minstrel as a man” (175). Alexander is explaining that prisoners should be allowed to back in society and be accepted once again. However, because of the mass incarceration poor people of color are ruined and people like back in history and see that black communities were targeted by the criminal justice system. Alexander uses The New Jim Crow as an analogy to show the different parallels and similarities between the old racial casting and the mass incarceration system. In chapter 5, alexander argues that black men are being arrested and put in prison and it effecting their responsibilities as a father. Alexander stated, “The fact that Barack Obama can give a speech on Father’s Day dedicated to the subject of fathers who are “AWOL” without ever acknowledging that the majority of young black men in many large urban areas are currently under the control of the criminal justice system is disturbing” (180). According to Alexander’s statement there are more black men be arrested than were enslaved during the Civil War. She explaining that black men are disappearing and it because of the fact that all of them are being locked up for a crime that whites aren’t even charged
In chapter 3, Alexander mostly discusses about how race works in the criminal justice system. Alexander explains that African Americans and Latinos are the majority of the prisoners in the U.S prison system. African American are 20-25 times more likely to be more arrested for drugs abusing at least 15 out of the 50 states, and 3/4 prisoners who are arrested for drug abuse are colored. Alexander stated “A bit of common sense is overdue in public discussions about racial bias in criminal justice system” (103), Alexander is debating over whether the black men have been targeted by the criminal justice system or unfairly treated. I agree with alexander because from what I have understood from The New Jim Crow , the black community are undermined by government and even if the slavery era has ended the system finds way to control