African Americans had long battled the issue of equal protection under the law as well as equal rights and representation. It is no secret that African Americans were struggling to regain their self-worth after experiencing several hundred years of slavery. Given that times have long since progressed, one would assume we would possess the same rights as White Americans. This is not at all the case; it is almost the exact opposite. In the work “The New Jim Crow,” by Michelle Alexander, the reader is intruded to one of the most perpetual realities of our time; African Americans are being funneled, in great numbers, into the prison system. Alexander delves into some prominent principles when discussing the matter, making mention of government
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Targeting heavily black populated areas, the police have cut no card when trying to perpetuate a war on drugs. With the election of President Richard Nixon, the war on drugs would take a shocking turn. "In June 1971, President Nixon declared a 'war on drugs. ' He dramatically increased the size and presence of federal drug control agencies, and pushed through measures such as mandatory sentencing and no-knock warrants." (DrugPolicy.org) Mandatory sentencing meant that if an individual was found guilty of a drug crime, they would be given a mandatory minimum sentence to be served, regardless of their criminal background. The no-knock warrants allowed police to surprise individuals and barge into their places of residence without announcing themselves. The war on drugs was quickly geared toward African Americans. Alexander states that while White Americans were arrested eight times more than prior to the War on Drugs, African Americans were arrested an astounding twenty-six times, which is also more than Latino arrests. "The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported in 2000 that white youth aged 12-17 are more than a third more likely to have sold illegal drugs than African American youth." (Alexander, 99) The facts showed that even African Americans were being arrested and incarcerated at extreme rates, date from the government showed that AA 's were "no more likely to be guilty of drug …show more content…
While African Americans have faced many hardships, they do possess, to some degree, equal protection under the law. There are instances in which an African American individual is afforded the same opportunity as a White American and does not seize that opportunity. They might argue that it is the job of an individual to ensure that they do not get into trouble that win land them in prison. People may even state that African Americans are not targeted solely based upon race. However, society does not realize that racism is deeply rooted in American history, as it is what this country was found on: the enslavement and oppression of others for the progression of
Targeting heavily black populated areas, the police have cut no card when trying to perpetuate a war on drugs. With the election of President Richard Nixon, the war on drugs would take a shocking turn. "In June 1971, President Nixon declared a 'war on drugs. ' He dramatically increased the size and presence of federal drug control agencies, and pushed through measures such as mandatory sentencing and no-knock warrants." (DrugPolicy.org) Mandatory sentencing meant that if an individual was found guilty of a drug crime, they would be given a mandatory minimum sentence to be served, regardless of their criminal background. The no-knock warrants allowed police to surprise individuals and barge into their places of residence without announcing themselves. The war on drugs was quickly geared toward African Americans. Alexander states that while White Americans were arrested eight times more than prior to the War on Drugs, African Americans were arrested an astounding twenty-six times, which is also more than Latino arrests. "The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported in 2000 that white youth aged 12-17 are more than a third more likely to have sold illegal drugs than African American youth." (Alexander, 99) The facts showed that even African Americans were being arrested and incarcerated at extreme rates, date from the government showed that AA 's were "no more likely to be guilty of drug …show more content…
While African Americans have faced many hardships, they do possess, to some degree, equal protection under the law. There are instances in which an African American individual is afforded the same opportunity as a White American and does not seize that opportunity. They might argue that it is the job of an individual to ensure that they do not get into trouble that win land them in prison. People may even state that African Americans are not targeted solely based upon race. However, society does not realize that racism is deeply rooted in American history, as it is what this country was found on: the enslavement and oppression of others for the progression of