Once you read it, you have crossed the rubicon and there is no return to sleepwalking. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness is a book by michelle alexander, a civil rights litigator and legal scholar. The new jim crow is a comprehensive book that explores race as a predictor of incarceration and harsher sentencing in the united states. The new jim crow challenges the civil rights communityand all of usto place mass incarceration at the forefront of a new movement for racial justice in america. Birmingham news during the past decade, no single book was more directly responsible for reshaping how the american public understands race and mass incarceration than michelle alexanders the new jim crow. All of these resources are based on the new jim crow and can be used as companions while reading the book. This book will change the way you think about criminal and judicial systems in the us. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander will pick up your everyday white liberal guilt, tie it in knots, and leave you wondering how you could have ever been so simpleminded as to think colorblindness was benign, let alone desirable. The new jim crow is essential reading for anyone who cares about justice, humanity, and the future of our democracy.
The new jim crow by michelle alexander plot summary litcharts. Empowering young inmates to write new chapters in their lives. The new jim crow book chicago public library bibliocommons. Praised by harvard law professor lani guinier as brave and bold, this book directly challenges the notion that the election of barack obama signals a new era of. American friends service committee 1501 cherry street, philadelphia, pa 19102 2152417000. Alexander systematically explores the policy changes from the days of nixon through the present exploring how each decision has created and allowed a system which criminalizes blackness, brownness, otherness in way that both creates new. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Because of this spotlight, community high school history teacher cindy haidubanks and some students in her social justice class are organizing a book club where they will read the new jim crow, by michelle alexander. Uncomfortable reads book club the new jim crow bookpeople.
While the war on drugs, hopped up on federal funds and confiscated property, is systematically exploiting. Praised by harvard law professor lani guinier as brave and bold, this book directly challenges the notion that the election of barack obama signals a new era of colorblindness. Jun, 2018 we first read the new jim crow years ago, before we started production of our feature documentary im not racist am i but this is the type of book worth coming back to again, and again. Seldom does a book have the impact of michelle alexanders the new jim crow. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander.
Jan 16, 2012 once in a great while a book comes along that changes the way we see the world and helps to fuel a nationwide social movement. See more ideas about jim crow, war on drugs and crow. Invite others to read the new jim crow and organize more discussion groups, perhaps including those from other faith communities and civic or community organizations. There are also now more discussion and teaching guides to go along with the book and, of course, ava duvernays incredible documentary th.
Watch michelle alexanders address to general assembly 2012 andor arrange for a showing in your congregation. I hope you keep on writing and have hope for the future. Considering the subject matter of the book, i think that is the most honest warning the author could give a reader. The warehousing of innercity youths, she writes, is a new form of jim crow under which drug offendersin jail or prison, on probation or paroleare denied employment, housing, education and public benefits. Join us this quarter as we continue our book club discussions. Since the new jim crow was first published in 2010, it. The new jim crow became a surprise bestseller when it was first published in 2012, and is currently the no. The new jim crow challenges the civil rights communityand all of usto place mass.
Jan 18, 2018 the new jim crow, a bestselling book about how mass incarceration has ravaged the black community, is banned by prisons in two states and can be difficult to obtain in others. Undoubtedly the most important book published in this century about the u. I was planning to finalize some things and get this up yesterday morning, and then we lost internet in a big storm on the islands on saturday, and here we are. You are now awakened to a dark and ugly reality that has been in place for decades and that is continuous with the racist underside of american history from the advent of slavery onward. Books about criminal justice, curated by the marshall project staff. The new jim crow is a stunning account of the rebirth of a castelike system in the united states, one that has resulted in millions of african americans locked. In this episode we discuss jim crow and his origins. Pml book club the new jim crow point made learning.
The new jim crow by michelle alexander the february selection for the chevy chase library book club is the new jim crow. Mar 18, 20 american friends service committee 1501 cherry street, philadelphia, pa 19102 2152417000. The february selection for the chevy chase library book club is the new jim crow. Zuckerbergs book club, a year of books, has focused on big ideas that influence society and business. You are now awakened to a dark and ugly reality that has been in place for decades and that is continuous with the racist underside of. In this video we discuss the end of jim crow and how the civil rights movement changed to a socioeconomic movement for the poor. The new jim crow quotes by michelle alexanderpage 3 of 26. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, by michelle alexander the new press, new york, n. The new jim crow book club kit palo alto city library. Instant downloads of all 1297 litchart pdfs including the new jim crow. The new jim crow is a book by michelle alexander that compares mass incarceration of africanamerican men to racial social control of the jim crow era. Since its publication in 2010, the book has appeared on the new york times bestseller list for more.
Michelle alexander is a highly acclaimed civil rights lawyer, advocate, legal scholar and author of the new jim crow. The authors calls upon the reader to become informed, and to take action. From racism, slipknots in a noose resulting in asphyxiation. California lawyer now and then a book comes along that might in time touch the public and educate social commentators, policymakers, and politicians about a glaring wrong that we have been living with that we also somehow dont know how to face.
It helps to answer important questions and discussion may bring out information and new points of view on questions like. This book is about the injustices within our countrys prison system. Theres no better book to start with on that project than michelle alexanders the new jim crow. In the very first line of the introduction to the book, michelle alexander writes, this book is not for everyone. Alexander, an attorney who is a civil rights advocate, a litigator, and a professor at ohio state universitys moritz college of law, asserts that crimefighting policies and systems in the united states, such as the war on drugs. As quickly as in a tremendous whereas a book comes alongside that modifications the easiest way we see the world and helps to gasoline a nationwide social movement. I now know that liberty for all is a fraud, and the symmetry dividing a friend and enemy is the line between the grave of a slave and a white mans ideology. If you are in a book club or even a progressive church sunday. Michelle alexander is a civil rights attorney and the author of the new jim crow. The new jim crow that you mention is an ongoing issue that many people might agree with and is an unfortunate one that needs attention.
Since it was first published in 2010, it has been cited in judicial decisions and has been adopted in campuswide and communitywide reads. For the april book club meeting, lets discuss the new jim crow. Join the leading website for book clubs with over 35,000 clubs and 20,000 reading guides. The new jim crow by onbldgcommunitybookclub see profile 052914 this book is a heavy read but it is inspiring in that it opens the door for people to educate themselves on an incarceration caste system that operates in the same manner as jim crow. The new jim crow mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindnessby michelle alexander the new press has been selected as the 2012 unitarian universalist association uua common read. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness the bestselling book that helped to transform the national debate on racial and criminal justice in the united states. The book discusses racerelated issues specific to africanamerican males and mass incarceration in the united states, but alexander noted that the discrimination faced by africanamerican males is prevalent among other minorities and socioeconomically. Feb 01, 2010 the warehousing of innercity youths, she writes, is a new form of jim crow under which drug offendersin jail or prison, on probation or paroleare denied employment, housing, education and public benefits. After looking at a pamphlet, proclaiming that drug war is the new jim crow, the author ignored it as a theory promoted by a bunch of conspiracy guys. This post is a day late, for which i am eternally sorry.
If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Join our mailing list get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more. Despite the triumphant dismantling of the jim crow laws, the system that once forced african americans into a segregated secondclass citizenship still haunts america, the us criminal justice system still unfairly targets black men and an entire segment of the population is deprived of their basic. Mar 02, 2020 the new jim crow that you mention is an ongoing issue that many people might agree with and is an unfortunate one that needs attention.
The new jim crow named one of the most important nonfiction books of the 21st century by entertainment weekly slate chronicle of higher eduction literary hub, book riot and zora a tenthanniversary edition of the iconic bestsellerone of the most influential books of the past 20 years, according to the chronicle of higher educationwith a new preface by the author it is in no small. It makes me ashamed for the evils my country has inflicted yet again on its black population. Young readers edition both from the new press, she lives in columbus, ohio. Study guide for the new jim crow american friends service. The book discusses racerelated issues specific to africanamerican males and mass incarceration in the united states, but alexander noted that the discrimination faced by africanamerican males is. Praised by harvard regulation professor lani guinier as brave and daring, this book immediately challenges the notion that the election of barack. The new jim crow mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness book club kit.
Once in a great while a book comes along that changes the way we see the world and helps to fuel a nationwide social movement. The new jim crow once in a great while a book comes along that changes the way we see the world and helps to fuel a nationwide social movement. The author of the new jim crow and the new jim crow. Public hosted by orange county racial justice collaborative. The new jim crow, a bestselling book about how mass incarceration has ravaged the black community, is banned by prisons in two states and can be difficult to obtain in others. Reading this book gave me more context around how the u. Perseus publishingonce in a great while a book comes along that changes the. The new jim crow by michelle alexander reading guidebook. We will be meeting virtually via zoom and discussing the new jim crow by stanford law alumna michelle alexander, jd 92 before joining academia, alexander worked for the aclu as the director of the racial justice project. The new jim crow is a stunning account of the rebirth of a castelike system in the united states, one that has resulted in millions of african americans locked behind bars and then relegated to a permanent secondclass statusdenied the very rights supposedly won in the civil rights movement. The new jim crow mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness book. The social justice league book club the new jim crow. What do you make of that as a entree into the new jim crow.
Jul 29, 2015 the new jim crow by michelle alexander is one of the most important american books in the last decade. The new jim crow by michelle alexander is one of the most important american books in the last decade. It will shine a light on a new form of segregation based on race. Before joining academia, alexander worked for the aclu as the director of the racial justice project. Lawyer and activist michelle alexander offers a stunning account of the rebirth of a castelike system in the united states, one that has resulted in millions of african americans locked behind bars and then relegated to a permanent secondclass status, denied the very rights supposedly won in the civil rights. Alexander explains that ten years ago, she was suspicious of the claim that mass incarceration was a new jim crow, but. Buy new jim crow, the reprint by michelle alexander isbn. Perseus publishingonce in a great while a book comes along that changes the way we see. The new jim crow argues that the ongoing war on drugs and the resulting mass incarceration of african americans is the moral equivalent of jim crow. The new jim crow was not the first book to connect the dots between the war on drugs. Supreme court progressed mass incarceration time after time. The introduction begins with alexanders comparison between an incarcerated africanamerican man today and the mans ancestors who, like him, were denied basic rights as a result of slavery and jim crow, respectively. The new jim crow by onbldgcommunitybookclub see profile 052914. But instead of looking at the civil war and reconstruction, were going to look at mass incarceration.
We later delve into what is called the redemption period in the south. We will be meeting virtually via zoom and discussing the new jim crow by stanford law alumna michelle alexander, jd 92. Praised by harvard law professor lani guinier as brave and bold, this book directly challenges the notion that the election of barack obama signals a. This book taught me an amazing amount about the facts and results of what the author calls the new jim crow the war on drugs, and the changes in legal and policing procedures that followed upon it. This book is a heavy read but it is inspiring in that it opens the door for people to educate themselves on an incarceration caste system that operates in the same manner as jim crow.
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