The New Jim Crow Summary

Michelle Alexanders “The new Jim Crow” argues that the current incarceration system reflects the Jim Crow laws of the 1920. She shows how the incarceration system is target toward already oppressed group. She furthers her argument and states that it is not only similar to Jim Crow but is the residue of it. After the abolishment of the Jim Crow laws, people of color were able to gain some power in society. In order for the dominant group to continue being in power they needed another way to oppress the minority groups. As a result they fabricated a scandal that caused fear in the masses. Eventually the masses demanded action be taken with no regard of the social implications. By only criminalizing one group they created a false reality. This gave the authority to punish certain groups harsher because society though that given group was bad by nature. The scandal that was created was that the drug was became a …show more content…
“During the past few decades, millions more have cycled in and out of the system; indeed, nearly 70 percent of people released from prison are re-arrested within three years.” The current system of incarceration does not help those who came out of prison stay out. Rather it draws them back in due to all of the negative legal repercussion. Ex-felons do not have the same freedoms. They are barred from certain jobs, housing, and voting. They are robbed of experiences that they will never have access too. As a consequence incarceration effects the next generation. Having parents that are in and out of jail can be detrimental to children’s self-worth. They may feel as if it their fault. They could also feel that their parent or parents do not love them enough to change. As a result, children can act out as a cry for attention or they could try to fill the void by joining a gang. Once they child does these thing they can be incarcerated and the cycle starts