Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness - Book Report/Review Example

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness Michelle Alexander is a prolific writer who has also labored as a law clerk and as a deputy director of racial justice project of the American civil liberties union. Her work is exceptional, challenging and engaging. In her book, ‘The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness’, she challenges the readers and the society as a whole as well as the civil rights community (Alexander, 2010). Her challenge in the book is that of placing the ‘mass incarceration at the vanguard of a new interest group for racial justice’ and more so in America. In her highlights, quote; “the verity that approximately half of young black men in ‘big’ American cities are under supervision of the criminal justice system or have criminal records is not evidence, as majority would argue, primarily due to poverty and poor choices. In consideration of Michelle’s artistic art, as well as similar works by various artists, this paper seeks to explore the nature of racial impacts, effects and how they can be dealt with in the society. Michelle argues that, the fact is a shred of evidence for a ‘new caste system at work.’ In her introductory part of the book, Michelle outlines; “it justifies a legal, social and economic boundary between ‘us’ and ‘them’. The highlight vividly engages the reader in differentiating the various ‘us’ and ‘them in terms of the difference in lines, in her case being the racial line. As such, the book concentrates on answering the research question of racial differences, effects and the judicial actions as well as contributions of what should be put in place so as the society becomes ‘color blind’ (Alexander, 2010). The contribution of 'colorblindness' thereby, creates an environment of no discrimination in terms of racial lines, determined mostly by skin color of an individual. The research question is reached at via exploration of various social statuses. The statuses have revealed the nature of racial diversities and diverse handling of the dissimilar appearances. As such, the artistic works by the various players are necessary for reinforcement of the arguments. The method employed in gathering information about to the research question, evidently, is through the examination of judicial documents. The fact is due to the statement released by Michelle, as viewed before that declaring that more than a half of young black men is in criminal collection departments or have criminal records. The design employed can be said to be that of sampling since it is not logical to analyze the whole bunch of files in America, as concerns the judicial records. Racism is the act of oppressing, mistreating and torturing other people because they are of different color and movement. In Michelle’s book, she explains how racial difference acts in America and who are put under the racism. In Michelle’s book, she was showing the need to accept one another regardless of the origin. Alexander outlined that a high number of black men were charged with drug traffic as compared to the number of white men. Michelle highlighted in her book that if a survey is carried out the young white youth would be the ones who were actively participating in drug traffic. Thus, the author focus on black men since they are the ones mistreated, tortured and oppressed. Michelle explains why there is a need for people being color blind, and it’s to avoid all the differences people think they have (Alexander, 2010). Reinforcing Michelle’s argument, Desmond’s work ‘Racial Domination’, he state that racial discrepancies are due to race make-up, language and cultural belief and values. Desmond shows that the racial disparity in American is as a result of nationalism and capitalism. As a result of racial disparity, racial conflict emerged and spontaneously spread worldwide (Bonilla-Silva, 1997). Thus, the term black men but Desmond refers them as’ Native Americans.’ Michelle's idea of racism is further supported by Davita Silfen Grasberg in his work’ Oppression, Resistance and State’. Davita outlines that racism differences emerged due to the idea of Americans thinking they are superior to the colored race. Michelle outlines how racism has spread to authority sector. In her book, she outlines how the black men are prosecuted with wrong evidence. The whites who are in power are aggressive towards the black men and do not serve the black men with justice. A quote from the book,” The prosecutor had hidden a black man (John Thompson) evidence that would have exonerated John,” but since the prosecutor was in power, he did what pleased him (Alexander, 2010). Michelle’s idea of authority is supported by Davita where he outlines that the black men have no authority in American since Black men any opportunity in leadership. Davita states black men were not counted American citizens. Desmond continues to support Michelle in the idea of power, when he stated that colored people were not recognized nor were they identified in American authority structure. Desmond also outlines that America there is no political structure that involves the black men. The police harass and torture the black men even when they are not in wrong and command for petty charges. Thus, black men are not given jobs in high levels that have more authority than the white. The black men are considered as white men’s slaves; hence, no authority do the blacks possess. In the white idea, the blacks are ‘inferior’ and ‘good for nothing people’ since they consider the blacks as the wrong doers (Alexander, 2010). Alexander outlines how the blacks are subjected to tough living in America due to racial differences (Alexander, 2010). Michelle outlines oppression in three aspects, that is; political, social and economic oppression. Michelle highlights, “once the Africans are labeled a criminal the old form of inequity job, housing education, right to vote, denial of food and other public benefits.” Favoritism and denial effected on the Africans cause stigmatization and humiliation. In political oppression, the black people were denied their civil rights and possession of power. Michelle is supported by Davita where he highlights in his book ‘Oppression, Resistance and State’ that the black men were under reproduction and production oppression. Davita further states that black people had no rights, opportunities and privileges in the American state; therefore, Africans were subjected to high taxes. As a result, family relationships and society communal connection is destroyed and self-shame and disgust. On social oppression, according to Michelle black people were not allowed to access public resources. Bonilla emphasize the point by outline that the black people were rejected since white men blamed the black men of any evil action done in American. Thus, hatred manifested between the white and black Americans. Desmond continues to highlights that in America the black Americans have no chance of acquiring a better job. Economical black Americans were oppressed economically by white American where they were forced to work for the white Americans for small payments. In Alexander’s book, she uses conflict theory to bring out a clear picture how society comes to be due to conflicts. Conflicts arise where white Americans and Africans Americans have disputes. The white Americans act as the lords to the black Americans and exercise authority over the Africans (Brubaker, Rogers, Mara & Peter, 2004). Micelles use conflict idea to outline the reasons why white Americans and Africans Americans are not in real terms. In Desmond’s book, he uses movement theory to show how black Americans have no freedom of movement to where they want to go. Black Americans do not move around American since they are rejected and cannot access general property. Davita uses conflict theory and movement theory with emphasis on the core existence of arguments and lack of movement to some races in American. Black Americans cannot have a chance of movement since they are subjected to force labor and long working hours, therefore, no time to meet their friends or go for shows or window shopping. In the conflict, idea power is viewed to be only in the hands of the better have, and better having not to be subjected to have better. Authority is only supposed to be in the hands of the rich people and use the power to their interests and not to the others advantages. The idea is outlined clearly by Michelle where police torture the Africans in order to be corrupt, thus, receive petty charges (Brubaker, Rogers, Mara & Peter, 2004). In order for racial differences to be absorbed away the ruling power has an obligation to share its authority with other persons from different races. Michelle highlights that disgust and low self- esteem of a black man ‘prison label’ are more of destroying to the black Americans society. Alexander continues to state that disgrace and stigma became of the conflict. She meant that the black American with the label ‘prison label’ damaged the community relationships and mutual connection support (Brubaker, Rogers, Mara & Peter, 2004). Bonilla argues that to maintain colorblindness in America the disparities races have to be united, accept and understand each other. On supportive surface of Michelle’s argument, Davita states that there must be reconciliation between white Americans and black Americans. Davita also outlined that there should be relationship focus where the state has to establish a good relationship with the black Americans. Michelle argued on thorough investigations on crimes committed in order to avoid inconvenience and to judge rightfully. Michelle encounters scenario that she views important to her since she did not expect what she expected. Michelle’s son Damien was arrested and taken to court. Michelle would not believe that she was actual seeing her son ‘Honor Roll’ in chains. She views it to be painful and full of surprises (Brubaker, Rogers, Mara & Peter, 2004). Luckily Damien was imprisoned only for our months in a “boot camp.” Michelle was happy since her son was not imprisoned for thirty years. The reader of Michelle’s book titled "The New Jim Crow, Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” get a clear understanding why there should be peace and unity among all races (Brubaker, Rogers, & Frederick, 2000). There should be equality between the races, so as to avoid exploitation of one race and conflicts. The reader is enlightened and saved from the racial chaos. Alexander’s book was to acknowledge the reader and the society at large the impacts of racism on the social, political, economic and cultural institutions. In each of the institutions, there are either positive or negative consequences for the community. Therefore, it is important to people to know the consequence if they face racial differences. Alexander used her book as an awakening call for America and see all the way it has to go to reach its destination. Research was conducted and revealed Americans idea of races and racial differences. The research observed that America is still on its past on being superior and stronger than the others (Brubaker, Rogers, & Frederick, 2000). In Michelle’s book, government is viewed a lawful body that is the concern with people’s rights, customs and values. Michelle outlines government as an organ that formulates rights, duties and rules that govern its people. Michelle continues to highlight, “Since the nation’s founding, black men repeatedly have been governed through institutions such as slavery and Jim Crow. Desmond outlines that state’s power has no structure that includes the black Americans. Thus, government is the first discriminatory part of America. The type of governance has led to the situation that black men die, but then are reborn in fresh form, adapted to the needs and constraints of the time.” Michelle follows the right channel to air out her grievances by taking her issues of racial differences to court (Brubaker, Rogers, & Frederick, 2000). American stated is outlined to be the best state while it only concerned its race and had no concern for the others races. Davita outlines authority structured class in inequity is enforced by the government. Therefore, government as an institution is the first part to exercise racial difference since no leader from a different racial can rule. A theory explaining the government fails to inter-marry the idea of the book. The government shows how it carries it duties and responsibilities in the lawful way, but it’s contrary to the book’s idea. Government is not concern about the kind of torture and misconducts are administered to the black men in prisons and streets (Brubaker, Rogers, & Frederick, 2000). Whereas the books’ idea is concern with how the mistreated group feels and what it goes through. Michelle book clearly shows that there was a need to free the black men from slavery, discrimination, torture, and oppression. A color-blind belief permeates whites as a group, not every white; American adheres to a color-blind way of judgment. Michelle outlines how economy implied in the country was affected since there was exploitation of some slavery (Bonilla-Silva, 1997). Due to new designs of warehouses the Americans had areas for the storage of their harvest; hence, there was necessary disposal. People are legal rights to own property. But there is a disagreement on who should own produced riches or labor owned riches. Due to industrialization Americans would easily access new farm inputs such as fertilizers and farm tools, and they contributed to the enhancement of the American economy (Bonilla-Silva, 1997). To the American advantage the farm owners or used laborers who were skilled or had knowledge in preparation of the farm. In Michelle’s book, black men are oppressed in jail and public places. The black men were arrested and harassed by the police due to minor issues or for no reason, but the race was the cause (Bonilla-Silva, 1997). During the arrest and harassment, black men would not anybody to defend them or come to their rescue due to racial differences. Alexander states that in the jails the black men were denied their rights and food. The black men were also exposed to battery and assaults from the police. In America, the black Americans and African Americans had to chance to air out their grievances and performed had tasks that were forced to perform (Bonilla-Silva, 1997). The black men are subjected to years in prison for offenses the never commit and force evidence is given against them. Black men suffer for Americans’ unlawful acts, thus, interlocking oppressions. In Michelle’s book, she states that the individual oppressed and taken to court have no opinion on no chance to air one's problem. Michelle emphasizes by outlining that it is painful and hating since one suffers for no reasons. The oppressed feels unwanted in the community and end up being stigmatized (Bonilla-Silva, 1997). In any case racial differences are not solved entirely, the whites will continue thinking they are the best race the black Americans and African Americans. Thus, there can never be any claim that racial attitude will ever be solved or tackled. But in conclusion it can be stated as that of positive progress on the issue of racial differences. Bonilla emphasis on how the color-blind ideology maintains white privilege while, at the same time, explicitly rejects overtly racist explanations for the continuing outcomes of racial inequality. In order to the progress to have continuous progress there must be an improvement in the social institution, cultural understanding, and communications systems (Bonilla-Silva, 1997). The changes in races’ relationships pose a challenge to the community since the races have to adapt and keep the same pace as to the changes. The hard work of stopping racism is to eliminate or prevent oppression, torture, discriminations and forced labor from being imposed on another race. The elimination of racial and races issues will create a conducive environment for the black men in America exercise their freedoms and civil rights freely. References Alexander, Michelle. (2010). The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. New York: The New Press. Bonilla-Silva, Eduardo (1997). Rethinking Racism: Toward a Structural Interpretation.American Sociological Review, 62: 465–480 Brubaker, Rogers, & Frederick Cooper (2000). Beyond “Identity.” Theory and Society,29: 1–47. Brubaker, Rogers, Mara Loveman, & Peter Stamatov (2004). Ethnicity as Cognition.Theoryand Society, 33: 31–64. http://roarmag.org/2014/08/ferguson-protests-institutional-racism/ http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/03/new-jim-crow-war-on-drugs http://www.democracynow.org/2010/3/11/legal_scholar_michelle_alexander_on_the http://www.scribd.com/doc/237456935/1800-Sociologists-Demand-Justice-and-Change-in-Policing-of-Communities-of-Color Read More