Analysis Of Mass Incarceration In The Age Of Colorblindness By Michelle Alexander

Analysis:

Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" aims to bring attention to the racial caste system that exists within the American justice system, particularly in the context of mass incarceration of African Americans. Alexander argues that although America has moved past Jim Crow segregation laws, it has not moved past the racist system of oppression that existed during that era. Instead, a new caste system has emerged, with the American justice system serving as its primary mechanism for the maintenance of racial hierarchy.

To support this thesis, Alexander details how the War on Drugs, initiated during the Reagan era, has resulted in an explosion of the prison population in America, particularly among people of color. She argues that the

For instance, the criminal justice system, with its focus on punishment and exclusion rather than rehabilitation, hinders the ability of those affected to participate fully in the economic and political life of the country. This, in turn, has significant implications for other social institutions, such as families, schools, and communities.

Alexander argues that the new caste system operates by taking advantage of the public's fear of crime and the media's portrayal of people of color as inherently criminal. By perpetuating this false narrative, the criminal justice system is able to maintain its status quo, with people of color as the primary victims.

In examining the book's theses, it is important to consider the historical context in which the criminal justice system has been shaped. For example, the War on Drugs was initiated at a time when the country was struggling with issues related to urbanization, job loss, and increased poverty. This provided an opportunity for politicians to create a scapegoat out of people of color, who were disproportionately affected by these