Over fifty years since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 eradicated state and local rules that enforced legal segregation, a substantial number of black males are under a different racial plight that confines them into a state of social subordination and invisibility. Highly acclaimed civil rights activist and author, Michelle Alexander, refers to the modern racial caste as “The New Jim Crow”. Racial difference in the criminal justice system remain an issue in the United States. Major changes in drug charges resulting in harsher crime control and sentencing policies led to an unknown buildup of the United States prison population. These harsh changes resulted in an alarming number of African American males in correctional facilities. Statistically,
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Also, the price of incarceration affects impoverished families. African American mother, Charlene Hamilton recounts her struggle to maintain the household after father, Carl Harris was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for a drug charge. The struggle resulted in homelessness for her and her daughters.Mass incarceration produces undeniable damaging effects on African American males. The disgrace of incarceration disrupts the black males transition from jail to society through human rights and benefits, such as voting, employment, housing, education, public service, and reform. The legalized incarceration of black males resembles the segregated rules enacted against black ancestors; thus causing a generational discrimination. Consequently, these effects disrupts the lives of their families and communities. University of Pennsylvania Professor Dorothy E. Roberts states, “Those that live or depend on him for personal or economic support- those located within his social link- are likely to experience a disruption in relationship due to his incarceration (Roberts, 2004)”. High incarceration rates damage communities and assets by contributing to disadvantages such as high criminal violence, damage of family units, economic division, political division, racial inequality, and communal …show more content…
In 2013, a total of 1,412,745 males were incarcerated in the United States. The article, Race and Prison, provides data recounting the number of sentenced state and federal prisoners in the United States, by race, in December 31, 2013. Data presented black males as the highest number of inmates with a total of 526,000. (White males: 454,100, Hispanic: 314,600) Based on the article, the disproportionate number of incarcerated black males is largely attributable to the aggressive enforcement and harsh sentencing of drug offenders. The article indicates “most serious offense for 210,200 people in the US sentenced to state facilities at the end of 2012 was a conviction involving illegal drugs. Of this total: 64,800 (30.83%) were non-Hispanic white, 79,300 (37.73%) were non-Hispanic black and 41,100 (19.55%) were Hispanic (Race and Prison).” of the prison population. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of mass incarceration on African American families. Fragile Families and Child Well-Being analyzed the impact of incarceration on African American fathers involvement with their children and their children’s behaviors. “Results revealed that 51% of the fathers in the sample had been incarcerated by their child’s fifth birthday (Perry & Mikia, 2012).” Furthermore, fathers performed worse economically, were less involved with their children, and the children of incarcerated fathers possessed
Also, the price of incarceration affects impoverished families. African American mother, Charlene Hamilton recounts her struggle to maintain the household after father, Carl Harris was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for a drug charge. The struggle resulted in homelessness for her and her daughters.Mass incarceration produces undeniable damaging effects on African American males. The disgrace of incarceration disrupts the black males transition from jail to society through human rights and benefits, such as voting, employment, housing, education, public service, and reform. The legalized incarceration of black males resembles the segregated rules enacted against black ancestors; thus causing a generational discrimination. Consequently, these effects disrupts the lives of their families and communities. University of Pennsylvania Professor Dorothy E. Roberts states, “Those that live or depend on him for personal or economic support- those located within his social link- are likely to experience a disruption in relationship due to his incarceration (Roberts, 2004)”. High incarceration rates damage communities and assets by contributing to disadvantages such as high criminal violence, damage of family units, economic division, political division, racial inequality, and communal …show more content…
In 2013, a total of 1,412,745 males were incarcerated in the United States. The article, Race and Prison, provides data recounting the number of sentenced state and federal prisoners in the United States, by race, in December 31, 2013. Data presented black males as the highest number of inmates with a total of 526,000. (White males: 454,100, Hispanic: 314,600) Based on the article, the disproportionate number of incarcerated black males is largely attributable to the aggressive enforcement and harsh sentencing of drug offenders. The article indicates “most serious offense for 210,200 people in the US sentenced to state facilities at the end of 2012 was a conviction involving illegal drugs. Of this total: 64,800 (30.83%) were non-Hispanic white, 79,300 (37.73%) were non-Hispanic black and 41,100 (19.55%) were Hispanic (Race and Prison).” of the prison population. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of mass incarceration on African American families. Fragile Families and Child Well-Being analyzed the impact of incarceration on African American fathers involvement with their children and their children’s behaviors. “Results revealed that 51% of the fathers in the sample had been incarcerated by their child’s fifth birthday (Perry & Mikia, 2012).” Furthermore, fathers performed worse economically, were less involved with their children, and the children of incarcerated fathers possessed