The Land of the Free?: Mass Incarceration as the New Jim Crow
By Rosie Kereston
What were the Jim Crow Laws Before a comparison can be drawn between the phenomenon of mass incarceration in the United States and the Reconstruction-era Jim Crow laws, it is important to note what these laws were, what effect they had on citizens, and why they were instituted in the first place. The term “Jim Crow” is actually a direct reference to a racist, traveling musical act from the 1830s. Blackface was used comically in these performances, and it provided yet another reassurance to viewers that African Americans were clearly inferior to their white neighbors. The phrase had become synonymous with African Americans by the 1890s, for which the discriminatory …show more content…
Like any comparison in academia, it has its proponents and its opponents, but in order to exam the argument of its opponents, it must be understood why the comparison exists at all. Much like the Jim Crow laws excluded blacks from participating in post-reconstruction era society in meaningful ways, the judicial system of America has many ways of excluding African Americans from society once they have been incarcerated. In this modern country, exclusion comes in various forms. Criminals become permanent outcasts socially and economically, and young black males are stigmatized more than any other group (Forman). Like the original Jim Crow laws, voter disenfranchisement exists just as it did before and is backed up by organized laws meant to keep people in their place. Having a criminal record can prevent someone from applying for welfare, getting certain jobs, getting loans, and much more (Alexander). Some people can lose their right to serve on a jury too. In addition, the complicated war on drugs has led to a disproportionate number of blacks behind bars for minor infractions, and they leave prison with harsh permanent records that haunt them …show more content…
Proponents of the new Jim Crow generally focus their attention only on black drug crimes being unfair, while the number of violent crimes is much more relevant to making a counter point. Violent black crime has actually decreased since the 1970s, and violent crime offenders make up about half of all those in jail today (Alexander). Forman feels that this belief is dangerous because of what it says about mass incarceration. It is much more complex than just revisited old southern policies, rather it includes that mass incarceration is wrongly about most prisoners being drug offenders. Violent crime is not mentioned, which actually is a much bigger problem that is not centered on black violence (Forman). This comparison also overlooks the effects of mass incarceration on other racial groups. For example, Latinos have a disproportionate amount of incarceration to population ratio, but calling mass incarceration the New Jim Crow is minimizing the effects felt by these other racial groups (Forman). All in all, mass incarceration is actually not as similar to the Jim Crow Laws as it might seem. The particular problems that occurred regarding the original laws are not comparable to the widespread and very complex, interdependent problems facing us today with mass incarceration. Opponents of the new Jim Crow claim that in order to solve the epidemic of mass incarceration, we must not be confused by this
By Rosie Kereston
What were the Jim Crow Laws Before a comparison can be drawn between the phenomenon of mass incarceration in the United States and the Reconstruction-era Jim Crow laws, it is important to note what these laws were, what effect they had on citizens, and why they were instituted in the first place. The term “Jim Crow” is actually a direct reference to a racist, traveling musical act from the 1830s. Blackface was used comically in these performances, and it provided yet another reassurance to viewers that African Americans were clearly inferior to their white neighbors. The phrase had become synonymous with African Americans by the 1890s, for which the discriminatory …show more content…
Like any comparison in academia, it has its proponents and its opponents, but in order to exam the argument of its opponents, it must be understood why the comparison exists at all. Much like the Jim Crow laws excluded blacks from participating in post-reconstruction era society in meaningful ways, the judicial system of America has many ways of excluding African Americans from society once they have been incarcerated. In this modern country, exclusion comes in various forms. Criminals become permanent outcasts socially and economically, and young black males are stigmatized more than any other group (Forman). Like the original Jim Crow laws, voter disenfranchisement exists just as it did before and is backed up by organized laws meant to keep people in their place. Having a criminal record can prevent someone from applying for welfare, getting certain jobs, getting loans, and much more (Alexander). Some people can lose their right to serve on a jury too. In addition, the complicated war on drugs has led to a disproportionate number of blacks behind bars for minor infractions, and they leave prison with harsh permanent records that haunt them …show more content…
Proponents of the new Jim Crow generally focus their attention only on black drug crimes being unfair, while the number of violent crimes is much more relevant to making a counter point. Violent black crime has actually decreased since the 1970s, and violent crime offenders make up about half of all those in jail today (Alexander). Forman feels that this belief is dangerous because of what it says about mass incarceration. It is much more complex than just revisited old southern policies, rather it includes that mass incarceration is wrongly about most prisoners being drug offenders. Violent crime is not mentioned, which actually is a much bigger problem that is not centered on black violence (Forman). This comparison also overlooks the effects of mass incarceration on other racial groups. For example, Latinos have a disproportionate amount of incarceration to population ratio, but calling mass incarceration the New Jim Crow is minimizing the effects felt by these other racial groups (Forman). All in all, mass incarceration is actually not as similar to the Jim Crow Laws as it might seem. The particular problems that occurred regarding the original laws are not comparable to the widespread and very complex, interdependent problems facing us today with mass incarceration. Opponents of the new Jim Crow claim that in order to solve the epidemic of mass incarceration, we must not be confused by this