The New Jim Crow by Michele Alexander - Article Example

The New Jim Crow Michele Alexander In her article “The New Jim Crow” Alexander explores the origin of the term Jim Crow; as a word used in describing legally sanctioned freed slaves after the Civil War (Alexander738). It denied African Americans the basic freedoms such as right to vote, right to choose place to live, go to school or even work. However, this ended with the passage of Voting Rights Act in 1965. Therefore, the main theme of her work focuses on racial discrimination experienced by African American men more so in the pretense of “War on Drugs” with the society being her audience. Thus, American society racially segregates both black and brown men in the fight against drug abuse. She acknowledges the passage of the Voting Rights Act but argues that the spirit of racial segregation never died (Alexander 738). According to her, it still exists today however in a different form with regard to the war on drugs whereby, a large number of black and brown American men have been incarcerated and stigmatized. She warns that imprisonment for minor drug offenses threatens to establish a “permanent under- class of black men cut off from the hope of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” (Alexander 739). Before reading the article, I was skeptical concerning her argument since I thought it was merely attention seeking. However, after careful reading, analysis, interpretation, and exploration of various issues raised, I am convinced that the issue is real and seeks immediate attention. Alexander uses pathos to highlight the plight of black and brown men in the American society. She claims that the society does not want to tell the truth why black and brown fathers rarely care about their families. Both the media and many people don’t want to tell the truth, “that most black and brown men never care about their families since they are imprisoned (Alexander 739). Main points or claims include: -Black and brown men unfairly targeted in the war against drug abuse. -They are imprisoned on petty drug related offences -Nobody wants to tell the truth why the black and brown men are not responsible fathers. “Not a word was said about prison” (Alexander 739), this is because most of them are racially targeted and imprisoned for drug abuse thereby not having adequate time to spend with their families, “but because they are warehoused in prisons, locked cages”( Alexander 739). -The victims never walk out of their homes voluntarily but are taken away handcuffed due to the massive federal program known as “War on Drugs” (Alexander 739). The writer acknowledges opposing views but considers them biased. This is since the views fail to tackle the real problem but gives excuses for the resultant situation of black and brown fathers neglecting their families. For instance, Barack Obama, then the Democrat Presidential nominee accuses the victims for neglecting their families, yet in real sense he does not want to dig deep to find the source of the problem. The problem arises from unfair arrests and imprisonment of black and men. Evidence Concessions- Alexander includes evidences supporting her claim. She concedes that currently, there are more African American adults under correctional facilities such as prisons, probation, or parole than it were in the 1850 when they were enslaved, just a decade before the onset of Civil War (Alexander740). According to her, “the mass incarceration of these people” is the main cause of single parenthood common among black kids born in the contemporary American society compared to the days of slavery. She also refutes the notion that African American men neglect their families due to laziness, immaturity, or even spending much time watching sports. However, she attributes such situations to the fact that black men have been locked in jails due to petty drug crimes often ignored when committed by whites (Alexander 740). She claims that in the contemporary America, many young African American men are prone to racial suffering and abuse with regard to employment, housing benefits and jury service than during the Jim Crow Era. Such discrimination is legal since it is based on a person’s criminal record, thus forming the “new racial equilibrium” (Alexander 740). The bias arrest and imprisonment of African Americans is critical since it completely affects one’s life, for instance, experiencing difficulties in securing a job. A study done by the De Paul University College of Law in 2010, shows that fifty seven percent of many professions requiring licenses place restrictions on people with criminal records. This clearly shows the problem awaiting thousands of black men under imprisonment due to drug related offenses and crimes (Alexander 745). Alexander uses the normalization of mass incarceration, embracement of racial stereotypes and assumptions by many people in American society and within major political parties as evidences for her claims. In certain cities like Chicago and Baltimore, many young Africans are under the control of criminal justice system or are regarded as criminals of life. The War on Drugs has been the cause of gross racial inequalities with about 90 percent of those imprisoned for drug offense being African American (Alexander 744). Despite presence of white drug offenders, they are rarely arrested and if so, are favorably treated. Despite occurrence and existence of these crimes, there is a state of denial in their existence. “Many people know and not- know” the truth about human suffering, thereby creating cultures of “we know and don’t know at the same time.” (Alexander 741). These evidences are very strong in proving the standpoint of Alexander. Thus, the claims are certainly factual since they occur and are witnessed by majority of African American men. Overall conclusion Increase of images of black men in handcuffs and others shown locked up in cages has been a regular staple in evening news among various media houses in the U/ S. Such are a cause of concern on the existence of bias in the “War on Drugs” and fight against drug abuse in America. Despite having knowledge of this information, the U.S has not shown too much care about the plight of these people. Moreover, whites are also prone to committing such crimes and therefore the war should be non-biased. Furthermore, it is certain that people from correctional facilities face lifetime discrimination, scorn, and exclusion yet many African Americans are still being unfairly imprisoned on petty drug offences. Therefore, it is high time to abandon this ill and secure happiness, and liberty to all Americans irrespective of race. Read More