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Reviews tagging 'Racism'
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
47 reviews
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
4.75
I can see why this book was getting so much love around June 2020 – it’s a strong argument against the “war on drugs” and incarceration because of the disproportionate it affect it has on Black men. As of now, it’s a bit of an older book, enough so that it warranted a lengthy introduction by Alexander in the 10th anniversary edition explaining the choice to focus of Black men and the way Obama’s presidency did not improve the overall situation as she explains it.
A lot of The New Jim Crow made me think, which is the best thing in non-fiction books, especially those centered around social justice. Despite my efforts at educating myself and being bettering humbles me in remembering that I have barely scratched the surface in discovering how deeply systematic racism defines the United States. Take Obama’s presidency for example – I agree with Alexander when she states that many people look at that and assume things are getting better. I come from a place of privilege to be able to even consider such things when a firm picture from a different perspective so clearly illustrates how prejudiced the system is.
Alexander presents her case with a strong voice and a surplus of evidence. In many ways, I felt she was simply lifting the veil to things that should be obvious. I found the conversation on “color blindness” particularly interesting as in the last few years we’ve learned how damaging that perspective can be.
The New Jim Crow is essential reading for anyone who is serious about their antiracism work. Full stop. This is an excellent book, extremely educational, well-written, and eye-opening. If you care about equity in the United States, this is a good place to learn about oppression as executed through the criminal justice system.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Slavery
katsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
“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.
"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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Racism, and War
Moderate: Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Slavery
Minor: Addiction
that_chick26's review against another edition
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
andyfrenchhh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Police brutality, Racism, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, and Drug abuse
lynchian's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
anniefwrites's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
I learned so much. SO MUCH. Even at ten years old, this book uncovers so much about the way the American criminal justice system was built and rebuilt to control Black people. Even if you think you know, you don’t know nearly as much as this book offers. My only joy is knowing that this was written before the Black Lives Matter movement took off and defunding prisons and police became a topic of national conversation. The task is enormous, but we’re on our way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Police brutality, and Confinement
Minor: Xenophobia
smellie_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Confinement, and Forced institutionalization
horizonous's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
2.75
I fully agree that the War on Drugs disproportionately affected black communities throughout the United States and that the U.S. justice system needs a complete overhaul, but I'm having a hard time recommending this particular book to anyone who wants to start learning about these topics.
I not only found it to be heavily biased, bordering on going through a list of liberal talking points, tiringly repetitive and at times dated (even though I read the 10th anniversary editon). The more I read the more I also became aware of the author's way of presenting some of her statements without properly backing them up or cherry-picking facts in order to underline her arguments.
I'm well aware that I'm in the minority with my opinions, but I really do hope I will find better books about these topics in the future and in the meantime I will re-watch the Netflix documentary The 13th. In my recollection this film was truly eye-opening and a must-watch for anyone who doesn't know where to start with their education about the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States, which I unfortunately cannot say about The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
I not only found it to be heavily biased, bordering on going through a list of liberal talking points, tiringly repetitive and at times dated (even though I read the 10th anniversary editon). The more I read the more I also became aware of the author's way of presenting some of her statements without properly backing them up or cherry-picking facts in order to underline her arguments.
I'm well aware that I'm in the minority with my opinions, but I really do hope I will find better books about these topics in the future and in the meantime I will re-watch the Netflix documentary The 13th. In my recollection this film was truly eye-opening and a must-watch for anyone who doesn't know where to start with their education about the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States, which I unfortunately cannot say about The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Racism
Moderate: Slavery and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
erniedresser's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Police brutality, and Hate crime
paperandkindness's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Police brutality