Reviews with content warning for Forced institutionalization - The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

“The genius of the current caste system, and what most distinguishes it from its predecessors, is that it appears voluntary."

"As a criminal, you have scarcely more rights, and arguably less respect, than a black man living in Alabama at the height of Jim Crow. We have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.”

“African Americans are not significantly more likely to use or sell prohibited drugs than whites, but they are made criminals at drastically higher rates for precisely the same conduct.”

“Today’s lynching is a felony charge. Today’s lynching is incarceration. Today’s lynch mobs are professionals. They have a badge; they have a law degree. A felony is a modern way of saying, ‘I’m going to hang you up and burn you.’ Once you get that F, you’re on fire.”

“Seeing race is not the problem. Refusing to care for the people we see is the problem."

What a powerful book. Alexander presents a compelling argument for mass incarceration as the current vehicle of America's racial caste system. It was at the same time enlightening yet enraging to see how history continues to play out in much the same way. As a history teacher, I know I shouldn't be surprised but I always am. I can't decide if it makes me lose faith in humanity because we consistently find ways to oppress one another or gives me more hope because we also consistently fight against it. As I'm sure many reviewers have said, this book should be required reading. It takes a hard look at our criminal justice system and how it has become not much more than a form of social control since the 1960s. It would love to see this book updated in the near future. It's just over 10 years old now. It was published during the Obama administration and I am incredibly interested to learn what kinds of movements or progress has been made (or not made) since the original publication of this book.

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andyfrenchhh's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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smellie_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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readandfindout's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

On first read in 2018: 4.5 stars. Though I can't say that this was an enjoyable read (as the topic is maddening), it was extremely informative. It only lost half a star because it was at times repetitive.

2023 reread:

Overall rating: 4.5 stars

Style/writing: 4.5 stars
Themes: 4.5 stars
Perspective: 4.5 stars

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