Michelle Alexander: US Prison System as a New Jim Crow (Prison/Industrial Complex)

[Bullet1987]

She has appeared on Democracy Now, Bill Moyers Journal, CSPAN, and maybe other programs. She has written an excellent book on the Prison-Industrial Complex (even though I'm not sure if she actually uses it that often) called The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. Everyone needs to read this book, and marijuana prohibition and criminalization is directly tied to it. I posted a video in the Political Videos section. It's over an hour long, but definitely worth watching.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x486558">Here

Here's an article she wrote for The Huffington Post.

It's that time of year again, when we hear Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speeches in 10 second clips, the same clips that get recycled on an annual basis now -- radical proclamations that have been reduced over the years to mere platitudes. His booming voice declares that he's been to the mountaintop and has glimpsed the promised land. He has a dream, he says, and his voice soars.

During this year's Black History Month, like last, we will be treated to celebrations of Obama's presidency -- the ultimate symbol, we are told, of America's triumph over its ugly history of discrimination, exclusion, and racial caste. This is a time to rejoice, it is said, though we still have a long way to go.

That is the dominant racial narrative today among those who claim to care about racial justice: Look how far we have come, but yes we still have a long way to go.

Here are a few facts that run counter to that racial narrative:

* There are more African Americans under correctional control today -- in prison or jail, on probation or parole -- than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began.

* As of 2004, more African American men were disenfranchised (due to felon disenfranchisement laws) than in 1870, the year the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified prohibiting laws that explicitly deny the right to vote on the basis of race.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-alexander/the-new-jim-crow_b_454469.html">The Huffington Post

[laureloak]

1. Who is committing the crimes?

Answer that one question honestly then we can talk racism.

[EOTE]

2. All races commit crimes.

Minorities are far, far more likely to go to jail for it. Now that this one question has been answered honestly, can we talk about racism?

[Bullet1987]

3. It's not that easy...laureloak

You're making the argument that the people committing the crime are the ones in jail. That's both true and false. Firstly, we're talking about the majority of Black males in prison are non-violent, first-time offenders caught for simple possession of marijuana. Ignoring the fact that Whites are just as likely to use marijuana as Blacks, but you don't see patrol cars driving through surburban neighborhoods. It's about WHO is being targeted. Then most don't even take into account how those with criminal records don't have basic rights to vote in some cases and are rejected from employment and public housing...even food stamps. Watch the video and then talk to me.

[laureloak]

4. No. I'm saying don't worry about the RACE of prisoners,

worry about who is committing the crimes and why. Mandatory sentencing for drug crimes applies to all races. It's not Whitey's fault any more.

[Raineyb]

5. A complete avoidance of the issue.

Typical I might add, it's usually the ploy of not so closeted racists. When studies show that black and brown people are 1. more likely to be targeted for attention by the police, 2. more likely to be arrested 3. more likely to be sent to trial for the same offense than white people 4. more likely to be convicted and 5. more likely to be sentenced to a harsher term than white people for the same offense then perhaps your "question", which let's face it wasn't really a question it was more an accusation that black people are more likely to commit crimes than white people which is complete and utter bullshit, might have some relevance. Otherwise your comment is just more head in the sand foolishness by someone not at all interested in addressing institutional racism in this country.

[laureloak]

7. You, my friend, are the one avoiding the truth. Nothing will

ever change as long as there's someone to blame other than one's self. It makes sense that if blacks are committing more crimes they would make up most of the prison population. Now, to remedy the problem find out WHY they are committing the crimes and go from there. Again, mandatory sentencing is color-blind so your argument is moot.

[Fumesucker]

10. Mandatory sentencing may be color blind but the rest of the judicial process is not..

What crime you are charged with in the first place is a matter of discretion on the part of the police and prosecutors and then of course there is always plea bargaining after the charges are set.

Not to mention that the powerful, wealthy and connected encounter an entirely different justice system than the poor, disenfranchised and powerless.

[ShamelessHussy]

6. all kinds of folks but folks with money and connections get off

all the time

fyi

[laureloak]

9. Our judicial system is unfair to the economically disadvantaged.

BUT, mandatory sentencing applies to everyone and there's no way around it unless the judge breaks the law.

[EOTE]

11. Do you not have a response?

Or are you completely willing to let your racist assumption stand?

[WinkyDink]

8. NEVER FORGET: Convicted felons LOSE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. See the end-game?

Excess profits + fewer probable Democratic votes = A Republican win-win.