The New Jim Crow

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander


This is book is a criticism of the American movement to a "colorblind" society. Michelle Alexander explains to the readers that the solution to the racial unrest in America is not to forget about the existence of race because it leads to the continuous exploitation of people of color by systematic racism. Mass incarceration is a result of the "War on drugs" and the general process of criminalizing black people. This shows parallel to the Los Angeles riots of 1992 because it is an ongoing result of the systematic racism that is being exploited by people in power without resolution in sight. The book talks about how "the criminal" is the new slave because it strips a person of their rights economically, socially, and politically. When a person is branded a criminal, they have less access to jobs and political rights. This shows parallel to the original Jim Crow which prevented black people from voting rights as well as economic access to stability. These continuous prevention of what we see as "human rights or citizens rights" are actively taken away to people of color. This continuous deprivation is similar to the spark that caused the Los Angeles riots of 1992.
In the past it was slavery, and now it is incarceration. The systematic exploitation of black people has evolved to suit the needs and culture of the people in power now. An now a new model is arising, colorblindness. This new model claims that if racism is based of a persons color, then eliminate the idea of color. The problem with this is that it brings "personal responsibility" to people who are neglected and exploited by a system that is created and established to be racist. This prevents reparations and progress toward equity if society chooses to become "colorblind".


-Patrick Jay Quizon