It blows my mind to think that we barely hear any discussions about why so many Black Americans are in our jails/prisons. We only hear the numbers and we see the mugshots on the news. It subconsciously supports the belief that Black Americans are in some way inferior. This is just one way the system perpetuates racism and oppression.
Professor Art Lewin’s book “Read Like Your Life Depends on It” has an eye opening passage that I want to share. Dr Lewin is a professor here at Baruch specializing in Black Studies.
“Unless there exists a Black “prison gene,” politics is the reason that 12 percept of African-American men ages 20-34 are in jail or prison. The evidence is irrefutable: mass incarceration of African Americans is national policy.” (Lewin, pg.17)
Dr. Lewin presents us with two possibilities. Either Blacks are inherently inferior, or it is indeed within the national/political interest to incarcerate African Americans. Science proves that humans have DNA sequences that are 99.9 percent identical regardless of race, so rhetorically he supports the latter. Its horrifying to think that thousands of citizens subconsciously believe that the “Black prison gene” exists, but it is even more horrifying to think that we are completely aware of the oppressive social/political tactics within our nation, yet so few call/demand for change. The problem comes down to fear. What do you think we’re scared of? What do you think the oppressors are scared of?