Copyright © 2016. Summary The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration on the Age Colorblindness written by legal scholar, Michelle Alexander, explores a new … 7 Mar. Course Hero, Inc. As a reminder, you may only use Course Hero content for your own personal use and may not copy, distribute, or otherwise exploit it for any other purpose. Why would there be huge resistance to reforming the New Jim Crow and Mass Incarceration? Also, those who are assumed to be in the system are subject to this discrimination and persecution; “practically from cradle to grave, black males in urban ghettos are treated like current or future criminals” (162). Many of them already suffer from functional illiteracy and poor education, and the inability to get a job adds to their marginalization. After analyzing the racialized aspects of drug policing and mass incarceration, Alexander looks into the world in which ex-offenders step into when they are released. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Yet a box mindset still persists in employment hiring of black men, and Alexander argues it's the mindset that must go, rather than the box itself. 2018. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. Michelle Alexander in her book, "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" argues that law enforcement officials routinely racially profile minorities to deny them socially, politically, and economically as was accustomed in the Jim Crow … Many caught in the system say the shame and stigma are worse than anything else. The internalization of this message can lead to despair, depression, and a return to prison. Gangsta rap is a way for young black men to embrace stigma; it is a psychological and political act. This moral failure is also echoed in Ta-Nehisi Coates’s famed Between the World and Me in which he writes, “One cannot, at once, claim to be superhuman and then plead mortal error. However, if incarceration is so common, why isn’t it socially normative? It helps a person support their family, contribute, add value to society, and personally feel like they have value. (2018, April 2). This prevents them from reintegrating into mainstream society. People should collectively embrace this already-stigmatized group and accept their humanity; however, this does not mean they bear no responsibility for their actions or we have to condone their behavior. All human beings make mistakes and fail to surmount obstacles. Many states tack on "poverty penalties": late fees, payment plan fees, and interest. Synopsis: “Seldom does a book have the impact of Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow… immediately reminded of the harsh realities of the New Jim Crow. It depicts the worst of racial stereotypes—and is largely designed for white audiences. In Chapter Four, … The New Jim Crow Essay 983 Words | 4 Pages. This chapter describes the difficulties faced by the former felons after they get out of jail. Although every individual may have the will to overcome obstacles in their path, the conditions they are born into are not irrelevant. Download a PDF to print or study offline. Some argue that black youth have embraced a culture of violence, which white Americans see glorified in rap music. The stigma of having a criminal record also has a profound impact. States permanently bar anyone with drug-related felony convictions from receiving any kind of federally funded public assistance. They will puzzle over how it was advertised as a way to control crime when, in fact, it seemed designed to create more crime. By simply listing all the consequences of … The fact that modern-day black culture perpetuates similar stereotypes leads to the same conclusion. They are also far more likely than any other demographic group to have their potential employment affected by their criminal record. The New Jim Crow study guide contains a biography of Michelle Alexander, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The hardships of those made up for lost time in mass imprisonment don’t end with prison or jail. Social acceptance is at stake and it holds great weight.”. Course Hero, Inc. They follow the “One Strike and You’re Out” policy, but this is hard for tenants who did not even know that criminal activity was going on (such as a woman evicted because her daughter had cocaine a few blocks from home). Clearly, things do not magically change for the better after … In the novel, The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander makes the statement that “Under the terms of our country’s founding document, slaves were … It is also psychologically normal for a stigmatized group to embrace that stigma as their only way to reclaim their identity. When they are unable to pay the fees and fine, the state allows their paychecks to be garnished. This massive silence within communities also guarantees that there can be no understanding within and outside of them. Even those who do find employment still struggle to survive in a "legal economy." Most people fail to overcome even simple challenges. Alexander points out that Americans who have not faced this kind of legal discrimination can hardly fathom what life is like for those who do. There have been campaigns to take away the box on employment applications, but some scholars claim this may be deleterious because employers can just use other “popular but misguided proxies for criminality” (152) such as public assistance, public housing, and poor education. Alexander takes the title for this chapter – “The Cruel Hand” – from a speech by Frederick Douglass in 1853. They can be stopped and searched by police for no reason …   Terms. Although ex-offenders are legally citizens, they lack many of the basic privileges of citizenship. Is he instead an unfortunate expression of the times and worthy of compassion? Drug treatment, collection fees, child support, and more are difficult to keep up with and many people are shackled by this debt. One School|One Book: The New Jim Crow. Alexander notes that the only way that the New Jim Crow can be sustained is through the mass denial and ignorance of the American people. Since the courts don't consider these to be punishments, judges aren't required to tell criminal defendants of the rights they are forfeiting by pleading guilty. He may have his license suspended. This is a society that is willing to demonize an entire segment of its population and imprison it while excusing other segments for similar crimes. April 2, 2018. These punishments echo the time after the Civil War when former slaves could be arrested for minor offenses, fined, and imprisoned. The New Jim Crow essays are academic essays for citation. I propose to take our countrymen’s claims of American exceptionalism seriously, which is to say I propose subjecting our country to an exceptional moral standard.” American society cannot espouse a rhetoric of colorblindness, comfort itself in the rightness and effectiveness of procedural guarantees, and look the other way when something challenges its worldview all the while claiming to be an emblem of freedom, fairness, and morality. The Question and Answer section for The New Jim Crow is a great Study Questions, 221-261 . The fourth issue is that of food. Is it any wonder, Alexander hints, that the vast majority of criminals are black? Knowing this, it's not surprising that many return to illegal activities to make money since it is money the state cannot touch. They often end up back in the system because the limitations placed on them make it difficult to survive. The New Jim Crow study guide contains a biography of Michelle Alexander, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. In The New Jim Crow, Alexander argues that the stigma of a drug conviction, the ongoing restrictions (such as voting) placed on those caught up in the system, and the fact that male African-Americans … The consequences of mass incarceration are discussed in Chapter 4. "The New Jim Crow" highlights the racial dimensions of the War on Drugs. It has the same tone of repetition, and provides little new information. Home; Week 1: Introduction; Week 2: Chapter 1 (first half) ... Summary … This is not far off from the days of Reconstruction when former slaves and descendants were arrested for minor reasons and then had to work off debt in convict leasing. His debt will never truly be paid and he seems to bear the mark of Cain. It also amounts to a type of "social exile" that feels permanent to many former felons. Studies demonstrate that a large number of close elections would likely have turned out differently if felons had been allowed to vote. It is the great justice … If people have no one to stay with, or even if they do and it has been a few weeks, it is hard to find a place to live in. This is because nearly all states require proof of maintaining employment when a criminal is on parole—or risk being sent back to prison. … The threat of police violence has replaced that of the lynch mob. . They can also be sent back to prison for failing to pay fees and fines while on probation. Course Hero. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness is a book by Michelle Alexander, a civil rights litigator and legal scholar. It is also very much a political act since it resists society's attempts to demean it. Former black offenders are the most strongly affected by their criminal records when applying for jobs. GradeSaver, 11 September 2016 Web. Alexander argues that a recently freed criminal today has few more rights than a freed black person in Mississippi at the height of Jim Crow laws. Course Hero. The New Jim Crow Chapter 1 Summary & Analysis Chapter 1 Summary: “The Rebirth of Caste” Alexander explores the history of “racialized social control” (20) in the United States. Is this question related to the title, The New Jim Crow? In Brave New World, Alexander highlights the lingering and damaging long-term effects of the felon label. He cannot enlist in the military, buy a gun, obtain federal security clearance, or vote; he most likely cannot obtain federally funded health and welfare benefits, food stamps, public housing, or federal education assistance. This right is considered to be the cornerstone of being a free and equal citizen. When former prisoners and felons leave prison, they face discrimination in employment, housing, welfare benefits and often voting rights. It argues that federal drug policy unfairly targets communities of color, keeping millions of young, black men in a cycle of poverty … Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-New-Jim-Crow/. Explain the shifts in federal Government funding with regards to public aid and to fighting crime. Alexander's text is full of examples of lying, manipulation, subterfuge, and obfuscation. Two-thirds of people in jails have income below the poverty line. Keeping ex-offenders under the threat of looming, perennial debt is merely another form of this kind of slavery. Copyright © 2021. ", The notion that families who live in inner city ghettos don't want peaceful communities, good jobs, and opportunities to be part of society is a racist one. The consequences of standing up to this kind of injustice makes people appear to favor violence and corruption versus peace. This includes pregnant women, people in drug rehabilitation programs, or the sick. This is partly because ex-offenders and their family members are desperate to be perceived as part of "the modern upwardly mobile class." So, then, should one hate or despise this black minstrel of today? One. The stigma of being labeled a criminal lasts much longer than one's stint behind bars. Therefore, they are more likely to return to the criminal activity that doesn't take earned money away. They can develop their own exclusion criteria and deny eligibility for even the most minor offenses. Others did not want to call attention to themselves so they did not pursue their right. No other country in the world withholds voting rights at the level and magnitude of the United States. They can be stopped and searched by police for no reason and returned to prison for minor offenses, such as failing to attend a meeting. Start studying Chapter Four - The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. Many feel existential angst; the scorn and the “cruel hand” burden them. 2. Almost one-third of young black men in this country are out of work, much of this due to criminal records. Accessed March 7, 2021. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-New-Jim-Crow/. Summary Alexander takes the title for this chapter – “The Cruel Hand” – from a speech by Frederick Douglass in 1853. Why have the civil rights organizations been slow to acknowledge the New Jim Crow… It is what provides the rightful punishment to those who test the privilege of freedom, those who violate the laws which provide a safe, and secure society. The fact that society chooses to shame and condemn this already stigmatized group says more about society than about the former prisoners. Today’s lynching is incarceration” (164). The New Jim Crow Chapter 4 Summary short literature analysis. "The New Jim Crow Study Guide." Many see it as a private, personal failure within their own family that they cannot share with others. The government offers little assistance to former criminals, particularly when it comes to food, housing, and childcare. Overall, the votes of those labeled felons could have made a major impact in the elections of 2000 and 2004. Summary Of The New Jim Crow 786 Words | 4 Pages. Consequently, since police in the War on Drugs targets minorities, those are the people who are frequently arrested for minor and nonviolent crimes. Chapter 4: "The Cruel Hand" Summary Chapter 5: "The New Jim Crow" Summary ... Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this The New Jim Crow study guide. THE NEW JIM CROW, STUDY QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTER 6 Content Questions 1. Yet it's not only the legal consequences but also the shame and stigma that surround the former criminal label. The government also strips them of the right to vote, sending the message that they are not full citizens of the country they live in. Course Hero, "The New Jim Crow Study Guide," April 2, 2018, accessed March 7, 2021, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-New-Jim-Crow/. There is already a five-year limit on welfare benefits. Course Hero. Meg Worden, an ex-offender herself and a contributor to Salon, expressed in an online discussion on the system, “Considering the importance of democracy, ownership, family, and the ability to earn a viable income as markers of relevant personhood in our culture, the penal system has actually rendered many African American men non-human. "The New Jim Crow Study Guide." It is an “attempt to carve out a positive identity in a society that offers them little more than scorn, contempt, and constant surveillance” (171). African Americans also play a part in driving the popularity of this kind of entertainment. There are innumerable obstacles to surmount: finding housing, which is limited by one’s record; finding a job, which can be almost impossible because you have to check the box; getting food, which is also hard due to limitations on public assistance; voting, which is often taken away from ex-offenders or full of obstacles to re-attain; dealing with the psychological burden of shame and stigma associated with prison and crime; and paying debt accrued from time in prison, making it very difficult to provide for one’s family. When historians look back on this time period, they will marvel over how such a "racialized social control" ruled the United States through mass incarceration. When a person gets out of jail, he often knows very little about the world he will step into. The shame also extends to family members of the incarcerated, who often lie to their communities to mitigate this shame. To begin with, people should not demonize a population, declare war against them, and then excoriate them. Employment also allows a person to feel autonomy, a part of their community, and keep them away from negative criminal influences. Everyone wants to belong to the side of right. This denial of the right to public housing assistance means that thousands of people become homeless. Alexander argues that a recently freed criminal today has few more rights than a freed black person in Mississippi at the height of Jim Crow laws. Employers, though, can deny jobs to people even if they were just arrested for, not convicted of, a crime. Yet nearly every state also allows private employers to discriminate against hiring people with criminal convictions—or even people who have simply been arrested. Most people do not realize that when they plead guilty to a crime—even a minor drug offense—they may give up the right to vote. Many incarceration laws ensure ex-offenders are prohibited from re-entering mainstream society as productive citizens with their rights intact. Alexander posits that perhaps it is the mere fact of seeing themselves on stage as celebrities that gave a sense of power and control. No, if you take a hard look at it, I think the only conclusion that can be reached is that the system as it’s presently designed is designed to send people right back to prison, and that is in fact what happens the vast majority of the time.”, The distance between the inhumane criminal justice system we’ve created and the founding principles we pride ourselves on is vast. Course Hero. These guidelines do not have the force of law but judges often reference them in their rulings. Thousands become homeless. The portrayal of black "gangsta culture" amounts to little more than a modern-day minstrel show. It doesn’t seem designed to facilitate people’s re-entry, doesn’t seem designed for people to find work and be stable, productive citizens. to get full document. Public housing officials are even legally allowed to reject housing applicants if they have been arrested and found innocent of a crime. Yet many within these communities have no idea that others around them are struggling with the same feelings and sense of alienation. One black minister said the new n-word is “felon,” and Alexander comments, “today’s lynching is a felony charge. In New York, the use of prisons dropped by 74 percent when former felons were provided with supportive housing. In this sense, it seems to many that the "debt to society" done by serving time to prison, is, in fact, never paid off. This is one of the themes that Alexander addresses multiple times in the text and that critics/readers tend to focus on. This second-class status will haunt a former felon permanently. Thanks to Clinton’s restructuring of welfare in 1996, there is a five-year limit on benefits, and states have to permanently bar individuals with drug-related felony convictions from federally funded public assistance. The major irony (and tragedy) is that a jury or a judge, who either are or speak for the people, told offenders that prison was the way they paid their debt to society, but now that they have ostensibly paid this debt they realize that it is not the case whatsoever. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This struggle is also a link back to when many former slaves found themselves in debtor's prison after arrests for minor violations. Meanwhile, black people are often barred from serving on juries as a result of bizarre (yet ostensibly race-neutral) rules, meaning that many African Americans are tried by all-white juries. The first issue is housing. Since they were paid nearly nothing, many were enslaved this way for years. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. From a distance, we can see the emptiness and pain that he possesses. In Course Hero. Chapter 4 Summary: “The Cruel Hand” Alexander focuses here on how the racial caste system created by mass incarceration operates once a person leaves prison. When black offenders encounter roadblocks at every angle, it's easy to see the connection between lack of opportunities and a return to prison. Of course, it can be a self-defeating and destructive act, and the violence should not be lauded.

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