The New Jim Crow Rhetorical Analysis

In the article, The New Jim Crow, author and professor Michelle Alexander eloquently examines and delves into how mass incarceration in the United States is a new type of class structure, a new racial caste system (Alexander 7). Her motive is to increase understanding on the issue, be a force for change, and foster dialogue. She provides the reader context on her life by giving personal examples as well as using facts and background to cement her thesis. Alexander constructs both a compelling and informative tone in order to interest and educate the readers on her points and ideas in relation to incarceration in America. Along with personal experiences, comes her persuasive use of both logos and pathos. She effectively informs by fully immersing
The use of authoritative and reputable sources, such as the United States Census Bureau and United States Department of Corrections, strengthens her explanation and makes it more reliable. This appeal to reason convinces the audience because it uses rationale. She provides facts that tell how, “Drug convictions have increased more than 1000% since the drug war began, an increase that bears no relationship to patterns of drug use or sales” (Anderson 12), she emphasizes that since the “war” has been targeted at poor people of color, the increase has heavily affected those communities Alexander 13). The information Alexander provides impacts discourse and future action on the issue. There are many statistics she uses throughout the article that effectively demonstrate how mass incarceration is comparable to Jim Crow. One quarter of all black men are permanently disenfranchised, employment and housing discrimination is alive and legal, and denial of public benefits are just a few negative aspects that result from being a felon,( Alexander 21-22). By examining different effects of the “system”, Alexander provides solid and quality evidence for the bad effect of mass incarceration in this
Alexander poses many personal questions that challenges one's beliefs, gets them to think, and act as a catalyst for discussion. She probes into how we, the reader, would feel if someone we loved had to deal with discrimination, exclusion, and disdain for their whole life because of an addiction to drugs or some other felony crime ( Alexander 24). By making incarceration personal the reader identifies more with the article. While some questions make the issue personal, others such as,“What can be done to dismantle this new system of control?” (Alexander 25), facilitate talk. She captures the audience this way by using emotions and thought provoking questions, which in turn leads to action. In order to promote more action and talk about the evils of mass incarceration and caste systems in America, Professor Michelle Alexander scrutinizes and explains how the criminal justice system in the United States is a new version of Jim Crow. Techniques such as sharing personal experiences, the use of pathos and logos, and actively engaging with the audience by asking questions are all used. Alexander provides facts on background and presents information about the topic in a way that draws the attention of the reader. She effectively relays her points across and helps expedite