The New Jim Crow- Michelle Alexander - Book Report/Review Example

Michelle Alexander in the book also states that when it comes to racial discrimination, America is somewhat going back to the pre revolution time where blacks were given no respect and not considered a functional part of the society. “The clock has been turned back on racial progress in America, though scarcely anyone seems to notice. All eyes are fixed on people like Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey who have defied the odds and achieved great power, wealth and fame” (The New Jim Crow pg 35) The author states that long time after the collapse of ancient slavery system, we are now going back to a state where racial discrimination is emerging again and the main reason behind all this is the social and judicial inequalities the minorities have been facing in the country.

The American criminal justice system which was supposed to be of no color discrimination has now somewhat evolved into a caricature of itself. The justice system is using ‘war on drugs’ as a major tool for mass incarceration of the blacks and brown people living in US. Another important factor mentioned by the author in this book is how the American society reacts after a prisoner is released from the prison after serving his time there. We make them a functionless part of the society. Not forgiving and letting them forget their past.

It usually is our duty to rehabilitate the ones that have lost their way in life and bring them back on track. But, when it comes to the present American society, people who have a bad history specially blacks and browns, they are socially out casted. No jobs for them, no one would like to talk to them or be friends with them. People like these are not given a second chance which is doing nothing but leading this once marvelous American society to demise. In the last but not the least, the author talks about the future prospects of our behavior and our being going to the 19th century again.

The author states her fears and gives some