In “Introduction to The New Jim Crow“, author Michelle Alexander states “we have not ended racial caste in American; we have merely redesigned it.” using the mass incarceration system in America to keep people of color in a permanent second–class status. She is trying to show that through the story of Jarvious Cotton and how through generation and generation there are constructs in place to keep African Americans from voting. It isn’t a secret that neighborhoods with predominantly POC populations are over-policed and the image of the black man is always made out as thug-like in America and there is direct criminalization of a skin tone. The racial caste system is very much prevalent in America, and now rather than Jim Crow laws enforcing literacy tests to prevent African Americans from having any civil influence in their country, a judicial system that targets people of color is present to keep people as subordinates. Alexander uses her first-hand experience working for the ACLU in order to back her claims and reasoning for why the system has just been redesigned to mask it’s true intentions.
3 thoughts on “Introduction of the New Jim Crow”
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I agree with you that the racial-caste systems is a prevalent concept that dominates America and we are able to see that in POC communities and in the lives of African Americans. America is utilizing different methods to keep this racial caste system a float and that is by targeting minorities. I think that’s kind of funny because in the bill of rights they preach about freedom, equality, and natural rights but seem to take that away from the lives of many Americans who aren’t white.
I also brought up the literacy test in my response and compared it to the system of mass incarceration! Also, I loved this statement you wrote: “It isn’t a secret that neighborhoods with predominantly POC populations are over-policed and the image of the black man is always made out as thug-like in America and there is direct criminalization of a skin tone.” The system set into place to prevent african americans from becoming successful has multiple layers.
I agree with the interpretation of the statement made by the author. The way that there is a clear parallel between the incarceration system and the oppression of holding the black community back from voting is crazy to think about. Also, I like the way you stated that this system is holding the back community ” in permanent second class status. Great work!